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Guatemalan man dies after medical emergency at Delaney Hall detention center

Jul 22, 2026 · Newark, NJ, Guatemala

José Chajón-Raxón, a Guatemalan immigrant, was detained by ICE at the Delaney Hall facility in Newark, New Jersey on July 18. The following day, a nurse witnessed him experiencing seizure-like activity and he was hospitalized. DHS said he was released from ICE custody on July 22 but has not disclosed further details, including when he died or whether he left the hospital before his death, citing a policy that ICE is no longer responsible for tracking deaths after release from custody. His death became publicly known after Democratic U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez disclosed it; Menendez said he received conflicting information about the case and conducted an oversight visit to the facility. Chajón-Raxón is the third detainee to die in connection with Delaney Hall.

Timeline

Jul 22, 2026Released from ICE custody; DHS did not disclose subsequent events
Jul 19, 2026Nurse witnessed him experiencing seizure-like activity; he was hospitalized
Jul 18, 2026José Chajón-Raxón arrested and detained by ICE at Delaney Hall in Newark, NJ
Jul 2026Rep. Rob Menendez disclosed the death publicly, citing conflicting information and conducting an oversight visit to the facility

Sources

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