DHS policy shift draws scrutiny after undisclosed detainee death in Newark facility

DHS acknowledged that it did not publicly disclose the death of Jose Chajon-Raxon, a Guatemalan detainee who had a seizure after being processed at the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, noting he was taken to a hospital and died after leaving ICE custody. The disclosure follows a policy shift announced earlier this year that ICE would not report deaths occurring within 30 days of a detainee’s release from custody, a rollback of a 2021 Biden-era rule. Critics, including Rep. Rob Menendez, say the change creates a loophole that shields agencies from accountability, while DHS says ICE remains committed to transparency regarding detainee deaths. The Delaney Hall facility is operated by Geo Group and has been the site of protests and hunger strikes by immigration advocates.