Deaths Among Immigrant Detainees Spark Concerns

The situation surrounding immigrant detainees in U.S. territories has raised significant questions after several deaths were reported. A notable incident involves Lianyong Wei, a Chinese immigrant who was found dead shortly after being detained.

Wei was arrested by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety on August 21. He allegedly attacked a family at their residence. His legal status expired in 2019, leading to his custody without incident for pending removal proceedings. On August 23, Wei was found unresponsive during morning checks at a Saipan facility managed by the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Corrections. He was declared dead at around 7:30 a.m.

Wei is the 57th immigrant detainee death in government custody since the start of President Trump’s second term. Twenty-four deaths have occurred since the beginning of the year.

Upon finding Wei, life-saving measures were initiated, and he was taken to the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation Emergency Room. His cause of death remains under investigation. The Department of Homeland Security mandates health screenings within 12 hours of immigrant intake but has not confirmed whether Wei underwent this evaluation.

Another controversial death involved Jose Chajon-Raxon, a Guatemalan man detained at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey. Chajon-Raxon experienced a medical emergency a day after intake and was hospitalized. He was released from ICE custody on July 22. The exact timing of his death remains unclear.

Delaney Hall reopened in May 2025. It has since seen three detainee deaths following medical emergencies. Additionally, Prisciliano Trejo’s case highlights critical concerns. Trejo, detained at Stewart Detention Center in Georgia, suffered from leukemia. Despite requesting medical assistance on July 6, the request faced delays. Trejo fell into a coma by July 15 and was released from custody. He passed away on July 24.

The Trump administration revoked a policy requiring ICE to report deaths occurring within 30 days post-custody release. ICE claims it is not accountable for monitoring individuals post-release.