Family demands answers after ICE detainee dies at Delaney Hall after medical episode
The family of 39-year-old Edwin Jovanny wants to know if their son was being properly cared for after complaining of numbness on the right side of his face and right arm on Friday. He was found unresponsive Saturday by fellow inmates.
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Another inmate died at Delaney Hall while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The family of Edwin Jovanny says they did not learn of his death until they received a call from University Hospital to identify his remains.
Edwin Jovanny, of Plainfield, had been held inside the detention center for the last six weeks.
His mother says the 39-year-old had been dealing with issues related to high blood pressure and diabetes.
She says that her son told her by phone on Friday that the right side of his face and arm were numb. He suffered a medical episode and died on Saturday.
His parents can’t understand why The GEO Group, which runs Delaney Hall, and the Department of Homeland Security did not notify them. Jovanny's mother wants to remain anonymous.
She said through a translator that she felt it was insensitive and disrespectful that DHS did not tell her that her son had died.
"Not just disrespectful to my family but also to our whole community, who are being arrested and hunted down," said Jovanny's mother.
His mother is very skeptical of the care her son was receiving.
A spokesperson for the DHS wrote in a statement to News 12 that when Jovanny "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 statement continued, "ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout their stay."
Gov. Mikie Sherrill has also commented on the situation.
She wrote in part, "My administration is working with our Congressional delegation to gather all the facts surrounding this death...This tragedy is another painful reminder of why Delaney Hall should be closed."
This is the second death of an inmate at Delaney Hall.
Last year, Jean Brutus, of Haiti, died 24 hours after being detained at the facility in Newark.
