The family of the man who died earlier this month while in Immigrations and Customs Enforcement custody at Newark’s Delaney Hall says it wants answers about how he died one day after he was taken into custody. In an exclusive interview with NBC New York, Jean Wilson Brutus’ cousin says Brutus didn’t have any medical concerns before being taken into custody. “We haven’t had some kind of closure surrounding his death,” Evans Belony told News 4’s Axel Turcios. It’s something Belony says he and his family are still trying to process. “He was like a loved one, that we all loved, he was like a brother.” Jean Wilson Brutus died Dec. 12, according to ICE, one day after he was taken into custody and placed in detention at Delaney Hall in Newark (Photo: Evans Belony) ICE confirmed on Thursday day that the 41-year-old Haitian man died Dec. 12, after experiencing “a medical emergency.” “He did not have any medical conditions previously and he entered into ICE custody healthy,” said Belony. “We do want transparency, we do want accountability, we do want justice,” Evans Belony, the cousin of Jean Wilson Brutus, told NBC New York. (Image: NBC New York) The Delaney Hall immigration facility has already made headlines several times this year. In May, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested there, accused of trespassing and released shortly after. The mayor has said he could not speak about his case, citing a promise he made to lawyers and the judge. Baraka released a statement saying Brutus’ passing was “distressing, and brings up a host of disturbing questions.” On Saturday, advocates were outside the detention center, holding signs calling for Delaney Hall to be shut down. “We do want transparency, we do want accountability, we do want justice,” Belony said. In a statement, ICE said in part “While at Delaney Hall Detention Facility, he experienced a medical emergency and local Emergency Medical Services was called. EMS performed life-saving measures and transported Brutus to University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, and later the hospital pronounced him deceased.” The statement adds, “He had no signs of distress during intake nor a medical history of cardiovascular issues.” ICE says Brutus was apprehended after he was released from the Union County jail in Elizabeth, New Jersey, following an arrest for criminal mischief — damage to property. Federal officials also claim the man had multiple prior arrests for criminal trespassing. “In terms of the prior arrests, we didn’t know anything,” Belony told News 4. ICE also says Brutus entered the U.S. on June 20, 2023, and that he was paroled into the country, pending immigration proceedings. “He came into the country seeking asylum,” said Belony. “And he was under our care.” A protestor outside the Delaney Hall immigration facility on Dec. 20, after the death of detainee Jean Wilson Brutus. (Image: NBC New York) Belony says his cousin was dealing with the loss of his mother. “He became very depressed and very sad.” “The fundamental issue in this case is that Jean Wilson Brutus was taken into ICE custody alive and turned out dead,” said family attorney Joseph Makhandal Champagne. “Knowing that he came in alive, knowing that he came in well, without any signs of medical distress or issues.” Champagne tells News 4 that he and Brutus’ family are exploring all legal avenues that are appropriate in this case. ...read more read less