DHS cites recent policy shift after not disclosing death of Guatemalan man who had been in custody

Key Points:

• Jose Chajon-Raxon, a Guatemalan man who had a seizure at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in New Jersey, died after being sent to a hospital and released from ICE custody, but officials were not notified of his death and did not disclose it publicly.
• The Department of Homeland Security stated that ICE is no longer responsible for monitoring or reporting deaths occurring after an individual is released from custody, reflecting a policy change that rescinded a 2021 Biden administration rule requiring death reports within 30 days of release.
• Critics, including U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez, argue this policy change creates a loophole allowing ICE to avoid accountability and public scrutiny for detainee deaths occurring shortly after release.
• Delaney Hall has been a focal point for protests and hunger strikes by immigration advocates concerned about detainee treatment and conditions at the facility.
• ICE maintains it is committed to transparency regarding detainee deaths, though recent disclosures have come through congressional sources rather than the agency itself.