Faith Groups in New Jersey Demand Answers After Death of ICE Detainee in Newark Facility

Religious leaders and immigration advocates across New Jersey are calling on federal authorities to conduct an independent investigation following the death of a Haitian man who reportedly suffered a medical emergency while being held at an immigration detention center in Newark.

The man, identified as 41-year-old Jean Wilson Brutus, was detained at Delaney Hall, a privately operated facility that resumed operations earlier this year. His death is the first reported fatality at the center since it reopened amid a broader federal push to expand immigration enforcement and deportations.

According to official statements, Brutus entered immigration custody on December 11 after being transferred from a county jail in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he had been held on a charge related to property damage. The following day, he reportedly experienced a medical emergency while inside the facility. Emergency responders were called, and he was transported to a Newark hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities have stated that the death is believed to be from natural causes.

Delaney Hall operates under a federal contract and is run by a private corrections company. In its public response, immigration officials described Brutus using enforcement-related language and stated that all required notifications were made to relevant oversight bodies and diplomatic representatives. Officials also reiterated their position that detainees are housed in safe and humane conditions.

Calls for Transparency and Oversight

Immigration advocates and volunteers associated with the “Eyes on ICE” monitoring effort reacted by demanding greater transparency and accountability. The group, made up of faith leaders and community organizations, has maintained frequent vigils outside the facility to support families and observe conditions inside.

Volunteers reported seeing an ambulance arrive at the detention center on the evening Brutus became ill. Advocates also cited records indicating numerous emergency medical calls to the facility in recent months, raising renewed concerns about the adequacy of medical care and emergency response protocols.

They further criticized the delay in publicly disclosing the death, arguing that the timing reinforces long-standing concerns about limited oversight and transparency within immigration detention facilities.

Religious Leaders Raise Moral Concerns

Kathy O’Leary, a Catholic peace activist who regularly participates in vigils outside Delaney Hall, said volunteers had previously received troubling reports of medical emergencies inside the facility, including incidents involving seizures that required urgent intervention.

She noted that advocates closely document events in real time, sharing photos, videos, and updates through coordinated communication channels. O’Leary emphasized that honoring Brutus’ dignity means ensuring he is remembered by name rather than reduced to an anonymous statistic.

Catholic Sister Susan Francois, who frequently documents her witness outside the facility on social media, expressed deep moral concern about the circumstances surrounding the death. Based on accounts from visiting family members, she said routine medical issues inside the center are often not addressed promptly or adequately.

She described the death as a tragic outcome that many advocates feared was inevitable and criticized both the tone and timing of the official announcement, calling it dehumanizing and insensitive.

Calls for Political Intervention

The Rev. Shannon Smythe, a Presbyterian minister who also volunteers at the site, said she hopes the death will serve as a turning point. She urged elected officials to take responsibility and intervene, arguing that moral appeals from clergy and community members must now be matched by concrete political action.

Requests for comment from federal oversight authorities were not immediately answered.

A Facility Under Ongoing Scrutiny

Since reopening earlier this year under a long-term federal agreement, Delaney Hall has been the focus of protests, legal challenges, and repeated allegations from advocacy groups regarding unsafe and dehumanizing conditions.

For Francois, witnessing families wait outside the detention center has deepened both her concern and her faith. She compared the scene to a biblical image of exclusion and neglect, saying the suffering she observes highlights the human cost of immigration detention.

As vigils continue, religious leaders and advocates insist that remembering Jean Wilson Brutus as a person — and demanding accountability for his death — remains a moral responsibility they will not abandon.