Fourth detainee captured after escape from New Jersey ICE facility

In June 2025, four detainees escaped from the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. They utilized a method that involved breaking a hole in the wall, allowing them to reach the facility's exterior and eventually escape into the surrounding area. This incident raised serious concerns regarding the safety measures and operational management of the facility, as well as the conditions experienced by the detainees, who reported inadequate food and hygiene issues leading up to their escape. Two detainees were apprehended shortly after, followed by the third one, leaving Andres Felipe Pineda Mogollon as the last fugitive. The FBI tracked Mogollon down and arrested him during a traffic stop in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, on July 17, 2025. At the time of capture, he faced several charges, including escape from custody and had a history of petty crime, marking him as a public safety threat. Prior to his escape, detainees at Delaney Hall had expressed grievances about not being fed adequately, claiming to have gone 20 hours without food, which may have contributed to their unrest leading to the escape. Mogollon is a 25-year-old Colombian national who illegally resided in the United States after overstaying his tourist visa. During his time at the detention facility, significant controversy surrounding Delaney Hall escalated, with local politicians voicing their frustrations regarding the facility's operations. Newark's Mayor Ras Baraka claimed that Delaney Hall had begun operations without necessary inspections and permits, accusations which the Department of Homeland Security denied. The fallout from the escape has prompted further scrutiny of both the detainee management policies of the ICE and the conditions within the facility. Local officials continue to advocate for improved standards and oversight of detention centers, while federal agencies defend their practices, asserting that they provide quality services to those in their custody. The incident has illuminated the challenges of immigration enforcement in the United States and raised questions about the humane treatment of individuals in detention.