A Guatemalan national detained at a controversial Newark ICE facility died following a medical emergency just one day after his July arrival, marking the third death linked to the same detention center in under a year.
Medical Emergency and Custody Release
Jose Chajon-Raxon entered the Delaney Hall detention facility on July 18, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The following day, facility staff witnessed him experiencing seizure-like activity. A nurse responded immediately and emergency medical personnel transported him to a local hospital. DHS officials released Chajon-Raxon from ICE custody on July 22, though the agency provided no explanation for the release or details about when he ultimately died.
The agency claimed it bore no responsibility for his death since he passed away weeks after leaving their custody. ICE was never formally notified of Chajon-Raxon’s death, according to DHS officials. This lack of notification has raised questions among congressional oversight authorities about transparency and accountability protocols at federal detention facilities.
Pattern of Deaths at Newark Facility
Delaney Hall has emerged as a focal point for human rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers following multiple detainee deaths. Edwin Lopez-Cornejo from El Salvador died this month after suffering a medical emergency at the same facility. Jean Wilson Brutus from Haiti died there in December. Democratic Representative Rob Menendez conducted an oversight visit to the facility on August 3, stating he received conflicting information about Chajon-Raxon’s case and the circumstances surrounding his death.
Nationwide, more than 50 individuals have died in ICE custody since President Trump took office in January of last year. Rights organizations have repeatedly raised alarms about medical care quality and living conditions at detention facilities across the country. ICE maintains that all detainees receive appropriate medical treatment and care while in federal custody.
Immigration Enforcement Under Scrutiny
The detention deaths occur amid Trump’s expanded immigration crackdown, which the administration defends as essential for domestic security. ICE has served as the primary enforcement arm of these policies. However, civil rights groups contend the crackdown has violated constitutional protections including free speech and due process rights. Advocacy organizations report ethnic minorities have raised particular concerns about racial profiling practices during immigration enforcement operations. The Trump administration continues to defend its approach as necessary to protect American citizens and uphold immigration law.
How many American Died at the hands of Illegal Immigrants?? You have NO Idea of how this person Died while in custody or What Crimes he Committed besides being here Illegally Do You?? Threaten me, my family, friends, or neighbors with possible deadly force and You Will Force Me to Respond. Illegal Immigrants get better benefits and criminal oversight than American Citizens. Make Your Country or Place of origin a better place instead of placing or holding American Citizens Responsible for Your Cowardice!!
In the USA:
6 people die every minute. This rate translates to roughly one death every 10 seconds, or about 348 to 353 deaths every hour.
It happens, death and taxes.
So now ICE is responsible for the deaths of anyone who has been in their custody at one time or.another? At what point do you feel their responsibility ends? I say it’s a small price to pay
Who’s to say he wouldn’t have died in his own country had he not broken the law and came here illegally?
This is horrible !!