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China presses the US for answers after a man dies hours after entering ICE custody
The Chinese government is pressing for answers as ICE reports 57 detainee deaths since January 2025 and says Wei’s cause of death is under investigation.
On Tuesday, ICE announced that Lianyong Wei, 51, died Aug. 23 at a hospital in the Northern Mariana Islands after guards found him unresponsive during morning checks at the Saipan lockup.
The Northern Mariana Islands Department arrested Wei on Aug. 21 following allegations of assault at a home; authorities transferred him to ICE custody the next day pending removal proceedings.
At least 57 ICE detainees have died since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, a death rate that has alarmed public health experts and advocates. Wei is the fifth Chinese national to die in U.S. custody since March 2025.
The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles confirmed notification of Wei's death and expressed 'serious concerns' to U.S. authorities, demanding a thorough investigation into the cause and preventive measures.
Anthony Torres, Northern Mariana Islands Department corrections commissioner, stated the Department is reviewing procedures following the incident. ICE has not confirmed whether Wei received the required Medical intake screening within his first 12 hours in custody.