Two of the four detainees who escaped from the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark have been recaptured, federal authorities confirmed Monday, as the search intensifies for the remaining fugitives. The escape, which occurred on June 12, has raised new questions about security protocols and living conditions at the recently opened facility.
Recaptured Escapees: Violent Offenders with Criminal Records
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the escapees as “dangerous criminal illegal aliens” and launched an immediate manhunt in cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, and local law enforcement. Two of the escapees — Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez of Honduras and Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada of Colombia — were apprehended separately on June 13.
Sandoval-Lopez, whose criminal history includes unlawful possession of a firearm and aggravated assault, was located in Passaic, New Jersey. According to DHS, he resisted arrest, kicking at officers and issuing death threats during the confrontation. ICE agents, the FBI, and local police were involved in the high-risk arrest.
Castaneda-Lozada, with prior convictions for burglary, theft, and conspiracy, initially attempted to turn himself in at the New Jersey State Police Bridgeton Station. However, officials there declined to take him into custody, citing sanctuary state policies that restrict cooperation with ICE. He later surrendered to FBI and ICE agents in Millville, New Jersey.
Remaining Fugitives Still on the Run
Federal agents are continuing the search for the remaining escapees: Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes of Honduras and Andres Pineda-Mogollon of Colombia. Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the capture of either man.
Bautista-Reyes entered the U.S. illegally in 2021 and was arrested on May 3, 2025, in Wayne Township on multiple charges, including aggravated assault, terroristic threats, attempted bodily injury, and unlawful weapon possession.
Pineda-Mogollon entered on a tourist visa in 2023, which DHS says he overstayed. He was arrested twice in 2025 — once in New York for petit larceny and again in New Jersey for residential burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and possession of burglary tools.
Delaney Hall Conditions Under Scrutiny
The escape comes amid growing concerns over the conditions inside Delaney Hall. Immigration advocacy groups have long criticized the 1,196-bed facility for alleged neglect, including insufficient food and poor treatment of detainees.
The June 12 breakout coincided with what officials described as a riot involving approximately 50 inmates. Reports from individuals inside the facility indicate that detainees began dismantling a wall within their housing unit after meals were delivered late. Federal agents responded with tear gas and pepper spray to contain the situation.
According to The Bergen Record, part of the USA TODAY Network, this uprising provided cover for the escape, though exact details of how the detainees fled remain under investigation.
Delaney Hall is operated under federal contract and is the first immigrant detention center to open under President Donald Trump’s second term, drawing increased scrutiny from civil liberties organizations who have flagged issues related to detainee welfare and facility oversight.
Why It Matters
The incident has ignited debates around the effectiveness and ethics of federal immigration detention. It also underscores the friction between federal enforcement agencies and local jurisdictions with sanctuary policies, as evidenced by the initial refusal of New Jersey State Police to cooperate with ICE in Castaneda-Lozada’s case.
Additionally, the escape raises security concerns about Delaney Hall itself, particularly its ability to handle high-risk detainees and respond to internal unrest. Calls are already growing for a broader investigation into the facility’s operations, management practices, and compliance with federal detention standards.
What’s Next
- Ongoing manhunt: DHS, ICE, and the FBI continue to search for Bautista-Reyes and Pineda-Mogollon, and have reiterated the $10,000 reward for tips leading to their capture.
- Facility review expected: Advocacy groups and some state officials are pushing for an independent review of Delaney Hall’s safety procedures and living conditions.
- Policy debate reignited: The case has reignited tensions between federal immigration enforcement and state sanctuary policies, likely fueling legislative debate in the coming months.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the two remaining fugitives is urged to contact Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) immediately.
