A 41-year-old Haitian-American man, Jean Wilson Brutus, who entered the United States through Texas in 2023 and was being held at Delaney Hall, a migrant detention center in Newark, died a day after his arrest by federal authorities, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which cited a "medical emergency" and "natural causes" in a statement.

Immigrant rights groups see several unanswered questions surrounding this death, noting that, according to ICE, the victim "showed no signs of distress during intake nor a medical history of cardiovascular issues." These groups are demanding more information from authorities about the exact circumstances of the tragedy and why ICE waited a week before officially announcing Brutus's death.

Kathy O'Leary, an activist who organizes vigils at the detention center, stated, "Many questions remain unanswered." Was he taking medication he didn't receive ? Was he given the wrong treatment? These are the kinds of things we hear frequently [...] It's quite unusual to die of natural causes at 41, so there are many questions about what happened and how it happened."

ICE detailed the victim's criminal history (arrested four times between July 2024 and November 2025). Organizations are denouncing this communication strategy aimed at "criminalizing" the man to mask the Agency's responsibility.

It's worth noting that the Delaney Hall Detention Center, one of the largest migrant detention centers in the United States, which opened earlier this year, has made headlines several times for numerous controversies and incidents : poor hygiene, substandard food, overcrowding; and recent serious incidents (four escapees during a riot in June 2025). Local political tensions (the mayor of Newark was arrested at the site last May). Note that this is the first death to occur at this center.

Several Democratic elected officials, including Senator Cory Booker, are demanding a transparent investigation and calling for the immediate closure of the center, describing the situation as a "stain" on the local community.

S/ HaitiLibre