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a family Haiti Asylum seeker mysteriously died in US last month ice The detention demands to know what happened to the “very healthy” 41-year-old.
New Jersey resident Jean Wilson Brutus — known to friends as “Wilson” — was captured by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on December 11 and taken to Delaney Halla troubled facility in Newark, run by GeoGroupthe largest private prison company in the United States.
According to one official, Brutus “suffered a medical emergency” within 24 hours of his arrival. ICE releases press release The headline at the time read, “An illegal immigrant dies at University Hospital after a medical emergency at Delaney Hall Detention Facility.” He was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next day, the agency said.
ICE attributed Brutus’ death to “natural causes” but provided no further details other than the fact that Brutus “showed no signs of distress during ingestion and had no history of cardiovascular issues.”
In a statement provided Tuesday independent“Before Wilson made shocking headlines, amid unsubstantiated investigations and unanswered questions, he was known as a kind and gentle soul who was always there when someone needed help,” Brutus’ cousin Evans Belloni said. “Wilson left Haiti for the United States because he was living in fear of a war zone. He came here looking for security, stability and the American dream, believing that hard work, decency and compassion still mattered.”
Belloni said Brutus’ loved ones remain “devastated” and are “committed to finding out what happened to him, not just for our family but for everyone in our country who lives in fear of masked federal agents taking them or their loved ones away from their homes and families.”
Brutus’ relatives have now hired civil rights attorney Oliver Barry and former Toms River, New Jersey, mayor Joseph Champagne Jr. to investigate Brutus’ death.
Barry said in a phone interview Tuesday independent The family “only learned that Brutus was in ICE custody when they were notified of his death. It was a really big call.”
Barry went on to say that Brutus fled Haiti to escape politics and gang violence because of the “horrendous” conditions he experienced there.
“This person is applying for asylum, seeking a better life,” he said.
Brutus is the first detainee to die at Delaney Hall since it reopened last year under a 15-year, $1 billion contract with the prison. GeoGroup. 1,000-bed immigration jail quadruples ICE’s detention capacity in New Jersey, According to the American Civil Liberties Union. Detainees have since complained inedible foodundrinkable water and says they were forced to leave Toothpaste, toilet paper or suitable winter clothing.
GEO Group spokesman Christopher Ferreira reached out for comment on Tuesday. independent Submitted to ICE, but ICE did not respond to inquiries.
The family hired Barry and Champagne specifically because they had been kept in the dark by federal authorities and wanted to know what happened to Brutus. No information comes from ice or GeoGroup Barry says this only adds to the grief Brutus’ family is going through.
“What they knew was that a perfectly healthy 41-year-old man would not be entering a safe, appropriate and professionally managed detention facility and be put in a body bag in less than a day,” Barry said in a statement released on Tuesday.
According to ICE, Brutus entered the United States without legal authorization on June 20, 2023, at the Hidalgo Port of Entry in Hidalgo, Texas. He was later released pending immigration proceedings, ICE said in a statement. Announcement of the Death of Brutus. In addition to calling Brutus a “criminal illegal alien” in the release, ICE listed Brutus’ previous record, including minor arrests for trespassing and criminal mischief.
There are currently more than 65,000 people detained in the United States, more than any other country in the world. At least 31 people die in ICE custody in 2025that number is nearly triple that of 2024, making it the deadliest year for eviction agencies in more than two decades. In the first month of 2026, at least six people died in ICE custody, including two civilians, both U.S. citizens. was shot go through minneapolis immigration office.
“ICE is committed to ensuring that all detainees are housed in a safe, secure, and humane environment,” an ICE press release issued after Brutus’ death said. “Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment an individual arrives and throughout their stay.”
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Democrat, Arrested in May last year While attempting an official oversight visit to Delaney Hall; this The charges have since been dropped. New Jersey Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver, arrested On the same day, Baraka allegedly obstructed two agents during his arrest; those charges still pending.
McIver Demand ICE be held accountable After Brutus’ death, he said the Trump administration had “demonstrated a complete disregard for human rights, human dignity and human life.”
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said he was “deeply concerned” by the news and condemned inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall.
barry told independent He and Champagne are currently gathering information and awaiting the results of an independent autopsy. They have also filed numerous public records requests, sent evidence preservation letters to everyone involved and are continuing to search for potential witnesses. Barry hopes to get “a clearer picture” of Brutus’ death soon.
one Belony launched the GoFundMe campaign 10 days ago To cover Brutus’ funeral, memorial service and burial expenses, just over $13,000 of the $50,000 goal has been raised so far. The proven fundraiser told potential donors that Brutus was not rich but he had “a rich heart” and recalled a man “known for always lending a helping hand without asking for anything in return.”
Belloni said in a statement Tuesday that the family is “devastated” by the loss of Brutus.
“His story cannot end here,” Belloni said. “His life mattered. We are committed to finding out what happened to him, not just for our family, but for everyone in our country who lives in fear that masked federal agents will take them or their loved ones away from their homes and families.”