Detainee Deaths Raise Concerns About Immigration Detention Policies

A Chinese immigrant, Lianyong Wei, was found dead shortly after his detention in a U.S. territory, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Wei, arrested in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) on August 21 for allegedly attacking a family, was taken into custody pending removal proceedings.

Wei, whose legal status ceased in 2019, was discovered unresponsive during morning checks at a Saipan facility managed by the CNMI Department of Corrections. He was pronounced dead around 7:30 a.m. local time on August 23. This incident marks the 57th immigrant detainee death in government care since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, based on ICE notifications, with 24 occurring since January 1.

ICE stated that Wei was immediately transported to the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation Emergency Room, where life-sustaining interventions were attempted.

The official cause of Wei’s death remains under investigation. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations mandate that all immigrant detainees receive a basic health screening within 12 hours of intake. However, DHS declined to confirm whether this occurred for Wei, only stating that comprehensive medical care is provided from arrival throughout detention.

Policy Changes and Exclusions

The government’s death count does not include cases like that of Jose Chajon-Raxon, a Guatemalan detained at Newark’s Delaney Hall Detention Center. Chajon-Raxon required emergency medical attention after a seizure-like event following intake. He was released from ICE custody on July 22, although the date of his death is unclear. This incident marks the third medical emergency-related death at Delaney Hall since May 2025.

Also excluded is Prisciliano Trejo, who died five weeks post-arrest by ICE at Georgia’s Stewart Detention Center. Trejo, afflicted with leukemia, requested medical help on July 6, which was approved after eight days. He fell into a coma on July 15, and was released on the same day. Trejo passed away on July 24.

In June, the Trump administration repealed a policy from the Biden era that required ICE to report deaths occurring within 30 days post-release from custody. DHS officials stated to NPR, “Per ICE policy, once released from ICE custody, we are not responsible for monitoring or reviewing deaths that occur later.”