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Guatemalan man dies after seizure at New Jersey detention center, DHS cites policy shift

Aug 3, 2025 · Newark, NJ, Guatemala

Guatemalan man dies after seizure at New Jersey detention center, DHS cites policy shift

Jose Chajon-Raxon, a Guatemalan man, was detained at Delaney Hall, a privately run immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on July 18. The next day, he experienced a seizure and was taken to University Hospital. He was released from ICE custody on July 22 but subsequently died. DHS did not publicly disclose his death, citing a 2023 policy change stating that ICE is no longer responsible for monitoring or reporting deaths occurring within 30 days of someone's release from custody. U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez disclosed the death publicly and criticized the policy as creating a "loophole" that allows ICE to avoid accountability.

Timeline

Aug 3, 2025U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez visited Delaney Hall and disclosed Chajon-Raxon's death; DHS stated it was not responsible for reporting deaths occurring after release from custody
Jul 22, 2025Chajon-Raxon released from ICE custody
Jul 19, 2025Chajon-Raxon experienced a seizure and was taken to University Hospital
Jul 18, 2025Jose Chajon-Raxon detained at Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey

Sources

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