China Demands Probe After Detainee Dies in ICE Custody

The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles is demanding a thorough investigation into the death of Lianyong Wei, a 51-year-old Chinese national who died on August 23 in the Northern Mariana Islands. Wei had been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for one day prior to his death.

Wei was arrested on August 21 by the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety for an alleged assault on a family of five. He was transferred to ICE custody on August 22. A guard discovered Wei unresponsive during morning checks on August 23, and he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Chinese diplomats expressed serious concerns over the incident and requested notification of the findings and measures to prevent similar recurrences. The death marks the fifth Chinese national to die in ICE or U.S. Border Patrol custody since March 2025. This incident follows a broader trend of detainee fatalities, with at least 57 ICE detainees dying since January 2025.

In response to the death, the Department of Public Safety announced a review of relevant procedures to implement corrective actions and strengthen prevention and response measures.