New Jersey’s Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced a civil rights investigation into GEO Group, the private operator of Delaney Hall, a Newark-based ICE detention facility, on Aug. 7. The probe follows the death of Edwin Jovanny Lopez Cornejo, a Salvadoran detainee who died in custody on Aug. 6, marking the 22nd death in ICE custody this year and the second at Delaney Hall in 2026.
On Aug. 8, approximately 150 protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall as part of a national day of action focused on immigrant rights. While the rally remained largely peaceful, one protester was pepper-sprayed after agitators approached the facility’s front gate and shook it. At least four detainees were released during the protest, though none consented to interviews.
The state’s Division on Civil Rights has issued subpoenas as part of the investigation, which will examine whether GEO Group employees violated detainees’ civil rights through actions or inactions, including alleged poor living conditions, inadequate medical care, and civil rights violations. Attorney General Davenport stated that the inquiry aims to ensure humane treatment and adequate medical care for detained individuals, emphasizing New Jersey’s legal and moral duty to uphold these rights.
GEO Group operates Delaney Hall under a 15-year, $1 billion contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The facility has faced growing scrutiny in recent months, with advocates and lawmakers citing repeated allegations of substandard conditions and insufficient medical attention. The investigation comes amid broader national debates over immigration detention practices and the accountability of private contractors managing such facilities.
Key Context:
- Delaney Hall is a privately operated ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
- Edwin Jovanny Lopez Cornejo died in custody on Aug. 6, becoming the 22nd detainee death in ICE custody this year.
- The state probe focuses on potential civil rights violations, including medical care and living conditions.
- Protesters gathered on Aug. 8, with one pepper-spraying incident reported during the demonstration.
GEO Group, Davenport’s office, and the Department of Homeland Security have been contacted for comment but have not yet responded publicly.