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Jean Wilson B.: Haitian man dies at Newark ICE facility, ambulance delayed for detainee van

Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian man, died of a pulmonary embolism less than a day after arriving at Newark's Delaney Hall detention facility. His ambulance was delayed five minutes so a van of new detainees could enter first.

Oct 13, 2026Newark, NJCountry of origin: Haiti

Jean Wilson B.: Haitian man dies at Newark ICE facility, ambulance delayed for detainee van
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Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian man, died in December 2025 at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, less than a day after being detained. ICE initially described his death as an unexplained "medical emergency" and attributed it to "natural causes," but a medical examiner later determined he died from a pulmonary embolism. An ambulance transporting him to University Hospital was delayed by five minutes as officials prioritized allowing a van of new detainees into the facility. His death came amid widespread complaints from detainees at Delaney Hall about contaminated water, spoiled food, and inadequate medical care, and was one of at least two deaths at the facility and one of 23 deaths in ICE custody during the year. ACLU of New Jersey Executive Director Amol Sinha later cited his death during congressional testimony about medical neglect and denial of medication at the facility.

Timeline

Oct 13, 2026—ACLU of New Jersey director cites Brutus's death in congressional testimony about facility conditions
Jan 28, 2026—Report details delayed ambulance response and conditions at Delaney Hall surrounding Brutus's death
Dec 1, 2025—Jean Wilson Brutus detained and transferred to Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark
Dec 1, 2025—Brutus dies less than a day after arriving; ICE attributes death to natural causes, later determined to be pulmonary embolism
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