In Newark, New Jersey, two out of four detainees who managed to escape from a federal immigration detention center have been recaptured, according to FBI reports on Sunday. The escape occurred at the Delaney Hall detention center, where the individuals broke through interior and exterior walls, facilitating their flight through the facility’s parking lot. U.S. Sen. Andy Kim mentioned these details alongside Homeland Security confirmation.
Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez and Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada, two of the escapees, have been returned to custody as of Friday. Meanwhile, Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes and Andres Felipe Pineda-Mogollon remain at large. However, specific details about the recapture of Sandoval-Lopez and Castaneda-Lozada, including the location and circumstances, have not been disclosed. All four escapees were residing in the U.S. illegally, each having been previously charged with various crimes in New Jersey and New York City, as indicated by Homeland Security.
Sandoval-Lopez, originating from Honduras, faced charges of unlawful possession of a handgun in October and aggravated assault earlier in February. Castaneda-Lozada, hailing from Colombia, was accused of burglary, theft, and conspiracy. Meanwhile, Bautista-Reyes, also from Honduras, has been charged with aggravated assault, attempting to cause bodily harm, making terroristic threats, and a weapons-related crime last May. Pineda-Mogollon, a Colombian national, faced charges related to minor larceny and burglary.
The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of each fugitive. Public defenders, representing Sandoval-Lopez, have not responded to requests for comments, and attorney information for the others has not been made available in online records.
The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, who has vocally challenged President Donald Trump’s strategies on immigration, noted reports suggesting potential chaos and a subsequent breakout at Delaney Hall. This was allegedly triggered by a disturbance on Thursday night, when protestors engaged in a face-off with security outside the facility, pushing against barricades as vehicles moved through the gates. However, the sequence of events remains largely unverified.
GEO Group, which operates the detention center, issued a statement rejecting claims of widespread unrest. This incident marks another chapter in ongoing tensions between Democratic officials calling for enhanced oversight of the facility and the federal authorities, including the Trump administration and GEO Group management.
Previously, Mayor Baraka faced arrest on May 9 under charges of trespassing, which were dropped soon after. Additionally, U.S. Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged with assaulting federal officers during a conflict at the facility. McIver has denied the charges against her.