41-year-old pronounced dead after medical emergency at Delaney Hall – first reported death since facility reopened in 2025
Newark, NJ – December 20, 2025 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed the death of Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian national, who passed away on December 12 following a medical emergency at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey.
According to an official ICE press release issued December 18, Brutus was taken into federal custody on December 11 after being released from Union County Jail on unrelated local charges. He reportedly showed no signs of distress during intake processing and had no documented history of cardiovascular issues.
While in detention, Brutus experienced a sudden medical emergency. Facility staff and emergency responders performed lifesaving measures on site before transporting him to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead. ICE described the cause as “suspected natural causes,” pending final autopsy results.
A History of Local Arrests and Missed Detainers
Brutus had multiple prior arrests in Elizabeth, New Jersey, primarily for criminal trespassing and mischief involving property damage. In previous cases, ICE had lodged immigration detainers requesting notification before his release, but local authorities released him without informing federal agents — a practice common in “sanctuary” jurisdictions like parts of New Jersey.
His final transfer to ICE custody came immediately after serving time on the most recent local charges.
First Death at Reopened Facility
Delaney Hall, operated by private contractor GEO Group, reopened in May 2025 after years of closure. This marks the first reported detainee death at the facility since reactivation.
The incident adds to a grim tally: more than 30 deaths in ICE custody nationwide in 2025, the highest in recent years amid record detention numbers and expanded interior enforcement under the Trump administration.
Outcry from Advocates and Officials
News of Brutus’s death has sparked immediate criticism from New Jersey Democratic leaders, immigrant rights groups, and faith communities.
Advocates point to longstanding concerns about medical care delays, overcrowding, and transparency in privately run detention centers. Several organizations, including the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice and First Friends of New Jersey & New York, renewed calls for an independent investigation and permanent closure of Delaney Hall.
“Another life lost in ICE custody raises serious questions about whether proper protocols were truly followed,” said a joint statement from faith leaders who regularly visit the facility. “We demand full accountability and an end to these preventable tragedies.”
New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, along with local congressional representatives, have echoed demands for oversight, citing patterns of inadequate healthcare in GEO Group facilities nationwide.
ICE Response and Ongoing Reviews
ICE maintains that staff responded promptly and followed all required protocols. The agency notified the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, its Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Haitian Consulate in New York, as mandated.
An autopsy by the New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office is pending, along with internal reviews.
As the Haitian diaspora in New Jersey — one of the largest in the U.S. — processes the news, community organizations are offering support to Brutus’s family and calling for greater protections for detainees, regardless of immigration status.
L’Union Suite extends condolences to Mr. Brutus’s loved ones and will continue to follow developments, including autopsy results and any investigative findings.
Rest in peace, Jean Wilson Brutus.
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