Authorities are searching for four men who escaped from an immigrant detention center in Newark, New Jersey, earlier this week.
According to Breitbart, the men, all of whom were being held on criminal charges pending immigration proceedings, fled the Delaney Hall facility on June 12, prompting a multi-agency manhunt with a $10,000 reward offered for information leading to their capture.
Officials with the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the four individuals escaped from Delaney Hall, a privately run detention center operated under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The facility houses individuals arrested for various criminal violations who are also facing immigration enforcement actions.
The individuals who escaped were Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes, Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez, Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada, and Andres Pineda-Mogollon. Each of the men is classified as unlawfully present in the United States and had been arrested recently in New Jersey or New York for criminal offenses ranging from burglary to aggravated assault. According to federal officials, Bautista-Reyes, a Honduran national who entered the country in 2021, was arrested in May in New Jersey. Charges against him include aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, and illegal possession of a weapon.
The Escapees had Recent Criminal Arrests
Sandoval-Lopez, also from Honduras, entered the United States as a minor in 2019. He was arrested in October 2024 in New Jersey for unlawful possession of a firearm and was detained again in February for aggravated assault, officials said. The third escapee, Castaneda-Lozada, is a Colombian national who arrived in the U.S. in 2022. He was arrested in May for burglary, theft, and conspiracy charges. According to DHS, he had been awaiting further proceedings at the time of the escape.
Pineda-Mogollon, also from Colombia, arrived in 2023 on a tourist visa, which he later overstayed. He was arrested first in New York City earlier this year for petit larceny, then again in New Jersey on several charges connected to residential burglary, including conspiracy and possession of burglary tools.
Federal Agencies Coordinate in the Ongoing Manhunt
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are now leading the investigation. A reward of $10,000 has been announced for tips that lead to any of the men. Authorities issued “Be On the Lookout” notifications to law enforcement nationwide and asked the public to remain alert.
“DHS has become aware of four detainees at the privately held Delaney Hall Detention Facility escaping,” a senior DHS official said on Friday. The agency coordinated with law enforcement partners to locate the escapees, including local, state, and federal officers. “Additional law enforcement partners have been brought in to find these escapees, and a BOLO has been disseminated,” the DHS official continued. “We encourage the public to call 911 or the ICE Tip Line: 866-DHS-2-ICE if they have information that may lead to the locating of these individuals.”
Immigration Detention Site Previously Spotlighted in Activism
Delaney Hall, located in Newark, has previously drawn attention due to its role in federal immigration enforcement. Representative LaMonica McIver, a Democrat from New Jersey who is now facing unrelated federal charges herself, was previously recorded protesting immigration-related detentions outside of this same facility.
Officials have not released specific information on how the inmates escaped, nor whether there were lapses in security procedures. The incident has raised further questions about the facility’s operation, particularly regarding oversight and the status of the detainees held there. This incident marks one of the highest-profile immigration-related facility breaches in recent years in the tri-state area, where Delaney Hall plays a significant role in managing detainees facing deportation proceedings.
Public Safety Concerns Elevate the Urgency of the Search
All four escapees had been in advanced stages of immigration-related legal proceedings at the time of their escape, though officials did not comment on the potential impact their escape could have on future cases or the timeline for recapture. Federal authorities have stressed that the fugitives pose potential risks to the public due to their criminal histories and have asked anyone with knowledge of their whereabouts to report immediately. The ICE Tip Line remains open around the clock to process new information.
As of Sunday, law enforcement continues canvassing neighborhoods in New Jersey and surrounding regions, though no confirmed sightings have been reported. The possibility that the fugitives may have left the immediate area has broadened the search beyond the tri-state region.
Reward Aims to Encourage Community Involvement
The $10,000 reward is intended to incentivize both community members and possible informants to come forward with tips. Officials have emphasized that the safety and cooperation of the public are central to resolving the case swiftly. “DHS and the FBI are offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of these public safety threats,” the DHS official announced. The BOLO alert includes the escapees’ photographs and identifying details shared across law enforcement networks and digital platforms.
Anyone with timely or relevant information is asked to contact authorities without attempting to approach the individuals, as they may be dangerous. Authorities have stressed the importance of not intervening directly and instead allowing trained professionals to intervene.
