China is demanding a thorough investigation and answers from U.S. authorities following the death of Lianyong Wei, a 51-year-old Chinese national, who died hours after being taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Wei died on August 23 at a hospital in the U.S. territory. ICE announced his death in a news release Tuesday. He had been arrested on August 21 by the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety on criminal charges related to an alleged assault. The following day, he was taken into ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
According to ICE, a guard discovered Wei unresponsive during routine morning checks on August 23 at the Saipan lockup. He was transported to a hospital emergency room, where he was pronounced dead after life-sustaining interventions were initiated. The cause of death is currently under investigation.
Wei had entered the U.S. territory in February 2019, authorized to stay for two weeks. U.S. authorities initiated removal proceedings in July 2026, and his next hearing was scheduled for August. The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles confirmed it had been notified of Wei's death and has expressed "serious concerns" to U.S. authorities. The consulate requires a timely and thorough investigation, notification of findings, measures to prevent recurrence, and assistance to Wei's family.
Wei's death marks at least the fifth Chinese national to die in the custody of ICE or the U.S. Border Patrol since March 2025, according to an Associated Press tally. Previous deaths have been attributed to suicide or medical complications.
Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, at least 57 ICE detainees have died. This rate has raised concerns among public health experts, immigrant advocates, and the Mexican government. It remains unclear if Wei received a medical intake screening, a process ICE promises detainees within their first 12 hours in custody and which medical experts deem critical for preventing deaths.
The timing of ICE's acknowledgement of Wei's death has also drawn attention. While Northern Mariana Islands authorities announced his death on August 24, ICE did not issue a news release until later. The agency typically aims to release information on detainee deaths within two business days.
The Saipan lockup typically holds an average of 18 ICE detainees daily. In response to the incident, the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety stated that it is reviewing relevant procedures and will implement necessary corrective actions to enhance prevention and response measures.