The Chinese government is pressing for answers after a Chinese man died hours after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a U.S. territory.
Lianyong Wei, 51, died Aug. 23 at a hospital in the Northern Mariana Islands, ICE announced in a news release Tuesday.
Wei was arrested Aug. 21 by the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety on criminal charges stemming from an alleged assault on a family of five at their home, according to ICE. He was taken into ICE custody the next day pending removal proceedings.
ICE said a guard at the lockup in Saipan found Wei unresponsive during routine morning checks on Aug. 23. He was taken to a hospital emergency room, where he was pronounced dead after “life-sustaining interventions were initiated,” the agency said, noting that the cause of his death is under investigation.
Wei entered the U.S. territory in February 2019 and was authorized to stay for two weeks, according to ICE. U.S. authorities began removal proceedings in July 2026, and Wei’s next hearing had been scheduled for this month.
The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles said it had been notified of Wei’s death.
“We have expressed serious concerns to the relevant U.S. authorities over this incident and required a timely and thorough investigation into the cause of Mr. Wei’s death, notification of the findings, measures to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents, and assistance to the family of the deceased in handling the aftermath,” the consulate said in a statement.
Wei is at least the fifth Chinese national who has died in the custody of ICE or the U.S. Border Patrol since March 2025, according to tracking by The Associated Press. Two of the first four deaths have been ruled suicides and the other two were the result of medical complications.
At least 57 ICE detainees have died since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, a death rate that has alarmed public health experts, advocates for immigrants and the Mexican government.
ICE hasn’t said whether Wei received the medical intake screening, which the agency promises to detainees within their first 12 hours in custody. Medical experts say a thorough screening is critical to preventing deaths.
It’s unclear why it took ICE more than a week to acknowledge Wei’s death, which was announced by authorities in the Northern Mariana Islands on Aug. 24. ICE has said it aims to issue a news release on detainee deaths within two business days.
The lockup in Saipan has held an average of 18 ICE detainees on any given day this year, according to ICE data. Roughly 50,000 people live in the Northern Mariana Islands.
“Following this incident, the Department is reviewing relevant procedures and will implement any necessary corrective actions to strengthen prevention and response measures,” Northern Mariana Islands corrections commissioner Anthony Torres said in a statement.
The Chinese government is seeking clarification following the death of Lianyong Wei, a 51-year-old Chinese national, shortly after his apprehension by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Northern Mariana Islands. Wei was taken into custody on August 21, 2023, after being arrested by the local Department of Public Safety on charges related to an alleged assault involving a family of five. He was transferred to ICE custody the following day, as he was pending removal proceedings.
Wei died on August 23 at a local hospital, where he was found unresponsive during a routine morning check at the detention facility in Saipan. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the emergency room. The cause of his death is currently under investigation, and ICE has not disclosed whether Wei received a medical intake screening, which is typically provided to detainees within their first 12 hours of custody. Medical experts highlight the importance of such screenings in preventing inmate fatalities.
Wei had first entered the U.S. territory in February 2019 with authorization to stay for two weeks. His removal proceedings commenced in July 2026, and his next hearing was scheduled for the month of his death. The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles has expressed serious concerns regarding the incident, calling for a thorough investigation and preventive measures to avoid similar occurrences in the future. They also requested assistance for Wei’s family in dealing with the aftermath of his death.
Wei’s death marks at least the fifth reported fatality of a Chinese national in ICE or Border Patrol custody since March 2025, as tracked by The Associated Press. Out of the previous four deaths, two were classified as suicides, while the other two resulted from medical complications. Since President Donald Trump resumed office in January 2025, at least 57 ICE detainees have died, raising alarm among public health experts, immigrant advocacy groups, and the Mexican government regarding the rising death rates in ICE custody.
It is unclear why it took ICE over a week to officially acknowledge Wei’s death, especially as local authorities had notified the public on August 24. ICE typically aims to release information on detainee deaths within two business days. The detention facility in Saipan typically holds an average of 18 ICE detainees daily, within a population of around 50,000 residents in the Northern Mariana Islands. Following Wei’s death, the corrections commissioner for the Northern Mariana Islands stated that the department would review its procedures and implement necessary corrective actions to enhance prevention and response protocols.
