Beijing demands probe into latest ICE custody death

A 51-year-old Chinese national died hours after being taken into U.S. immigration custody in the Northern Mariana Islands, prompting Beijing to demand a thorough investigation. The man, Lianyong Wei, had been arrested on assault charges and was awaiting removal proceedings. At least 57 ICE detainees have died since January 2025, according to AP tracking.

Wei's death marks the fifth reported fatality of a Chinese national in U.S. immigration custody since March 2025, following two suicides and two deaths from medical complications. The Northern Mariana Islands corrections department has stated it is reviewing procedures and will implement corrective actions to strengthen prevention and response measures.

ICE has not confirmed whether Wei received the medical intake screening promised to detainees within their first 12 hours of custody, a check that medical experts consider critical to preventing deaths. The agency also took more than a week to publicly acknowledge the death, exceeding its stated two-business-day notification policy. The Saipan lockup holds roughly 18 ICE detainees on an average day.