Family alleges medical negligence after man dies in ICE custody

The family of a man who died in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody has alleged medical negligence and is demanding an independent investigation.

ICE said on Monday that Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, who was being held at the Delaney Hall detention facility, was pronounced dead on Saturday by medical personnel at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, after suffering what the agency described as a medical emergency.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Lopez-Cornejo's family said he suffered from a number of underlying health conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes and epilepsy, and relied on several medications to keep them under control.

His mother, Maria Cornejo, said he called a day before his death and told her he had lost feeling in half his face and arm.

"My son needed medical attention, and he did not receive it," she said in Spanish. His 12-year-old daughter also alleged he was denied medications and that he had lost a lot of weight in custody.

ICE said Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals.

"When Lopez-Cornejo experienced a medical emergency while in ICE custody, GEO facility staff and medical staff responded immediately and called 911 for emergency medical services. The official cause of death remains pending further medical examination," the agency said in a statement on Monday. It reiterated that statement when asked to comment on the family's remarks.

While the family demanded an independent investigation, New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill said her administration continues to "face obstruction in our efforts to conduct a full health inspection of the facility".

The death comes amid broader scrutiny of conditions in US immigration detention facilities. More than 50 people have died in ICE custody nationwide since President Donald Trump took office in January last year, while rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about medical care and living conditions.

ICE has dismissed reports of poor conditions and maintained that it takes the safety and health of detainees seriously.

The agency has been at the centre of Trump's immigration crackdown and deportation drive, which rights groups condemn as violating free speech and due process rights. Advocates say the crackdown has created an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities who have raised concerns about racial profiling. Trump says his actions aim to improve domestic security.