A Chinese immigrant, Lianyong Wei, was found dead shortly after entering immigration detention in a U.S. territory. The 51-year-old was arrested in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on August 21 for allegedly attacking a family. After being taken into custody ‘without incident’ due to the expiration of his legal immigration status in 2019, Wei was discovered unresponsive during a routine check at the Saipan detention facility.
Official reports from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicate Wei’s death occurred on August 23. This case marks the 57th immigrant detainee death since President Trump’s second term began, with 24 deaths occurring this year alone. Wei received emergency medical care after his discovery, but was pronounced dead later that morning. His cause of death is still under investigation.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations require all detainees to undergo a health screening within 12 hours of intake. However, DHS has not confirmed if Wei received this evaluation, instead emphasizing that ‘comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive.’
Exclusions from the Government’s Death Tally
Not all deaths related to detention are included in government statistics. Jose Chajon-Raxon from Guatemala, detained at Delaney Hall in New Jersey, experienced a ‘seizure-like activity’ and was hospitalized after intake. Though released from custody, it is unclear if he died immediately after his release. Chajon-Raxon is the third person to experience a medical emergency at Delaney Hall since it reopened in May 2025.
Another case not counted is Prisciliano Trejo, held at the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. Trejo suffered from leukemia and sought medical aid on July 6, but faced delays. He fell into a coma on July 15, was released from custody that day, and passed away on July 24.
Policy Changes
The Trump administration recently eliminated a policy requiring ICE to report deaths occurring within 30 days of an individual’s release. According to DHS, ICE is no longer responsible for monitoring or reviewing deaths after custody ends, as per their stated policy: ‘ICE is not responsible when an individual passes away weeks after leaving their custody.’