A 51-year-old Chinese national died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on August 23, 2026, hours after being transferred to a lockup in Saipan. The Chinese government has requested a thorough investigation and a report on the findings from U.S. authorities following the death of Lianyong Wei.
Wei was arrested on August 21 by the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety on criminal charges related to an alleged assault. ICE took him into custody the following day for removal proceedings. According to the agency, a guard found Wei unresponsive during routine checks on the morning of August 23, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital after medical staff attempted life-sustaining interventions.
The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles stated that it had expressed serious concerns to U.S. authorities, requesting measures to prevent future incidents and assistance for Wei's family. ICE has not confirmed whether Wei received a medical intake screening within his first 12 hours of custody. Anthony Torres, the Northern Mariana Islands corrections commissioner, said the department is reviewing procedures to strengthen prevention and response measures.
Detainees and their legal advocates may notice changes in the timing of death notifications. While ICE guidelines suggest issuing news releases within two business days, the agency did not issue a release on Wei’s death until Tuesday, Sept. 1, nine days after he died. The Mexican government and public health experts have also expressed concern over the broader death rate, noting that at least 57 ICE detainees have died since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.
The death comes amid international diplomatic pressure regarding the treatment of foreign nationals in U.S. detention facilities. Wei's next immigration hearing, which had been scheduled for September 2026, will no longer take place. Investigations by authorities into the cause of death are ongoing. Corrective actions at the Saipan facility will be implemented following the local department's review.