ICE Detainee Dies One Day After Arrival at Newark’s Delaney Hall Facility
Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian national, passed away shortly after being detained at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, according to statements made by federal officials. This incident is significant as it marks the first reported death of a detainee at this facility, which has come under scrutiny for its operating conditions since its opening in May 2025.
Brutus fell ill on December 11, 2025, just one day after his arrival at Delaney Hall. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that he was transported to University Hospital in Newark, where he succumbed to what officials described as “suspected natural causes” the following day. Notably, ICE stated that Brutus appeared healthy upon his admission and had no prior medical history of cardiovascular problems.
Eyewitness accounts from volunteers at the facility suggest that there were delays in the response to Brutus’s medical emergency. During a visit, a volunteer reported hearing an urgent call for an ambulance over a guard’s walkie-talkie, indicating an individual in intake was experiencing a seizure. The same volunteer alleged that the response was hindered when an ambulance was reportedly held up at the Delaney Hall gate for five minutes while staff prioritized a van bringing in newly detained individuals.
This incident has raised alarm among advocacy groups and political figures, who are calling for accountability and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Brutus’s death. Critics have long raised concerns regarding the conditions within Delaney Hall, pointing to allegations of inadequate meals, insufficient access to drinking water, and extreme temperatures as contributing factors to a hazardous environment for detainees.
The outcry intensified following news that it took ICE a week to issue a public announcement regarding Brutus’s death, despite the agency’s policy stipulating that such incidents should be reported within two business days. Representative LaMonica McIver of New Jersey has publicly demanded clarity about the care provided to Brutus and the factors leading up to his death.
Senator Cory Booker has also condemned the management of the facility, criticizing both the operational shortcomings of its private operator, GEO Group, and the lack of appropriate oversight by the Department of Homeland Security. He reiterated the need for immediate measures to close Delaney Hall to prevent further tragedies.
Statistical data from a recent report indicates that the year 2025 has been particularly deadly for ICE detainees, with at least 23 reported deaths. This marks the highest mortality rate in ICE custody since 2004, drawing attention to ongoing issues of health and safety within the agency’s facilities. Brutus was one of four detainees who died in custody across the United States in a recent three-day span, highlighting a troubling trend that demands urgent action from federal authorities.
As the situation unfolds, it remains crucial for ICE to address both the systemic failings within its detention centers and the broader implications for human rights and detainee care in immigration enforcement policies.
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