A 52-year-old Chinese woman died by suicide while in U.S. immigration custody at a Border Patrol station in Yuma, Arizona. According to The New York Times, officials had detained her in California for overstaying a visitor visa before transferring her to the Arizona facility.
Lawmakers raise concerns over missed welfare checks
Representative Pramila Jayapal, who leads the House subcommittee on immigration oversight, released a statement condemning the incident. She said the case raised serious concerns about whether officers followed proper welfare protocols.
“There is no excuse for why agents cannot verify if the welfare checks occurred — or why some of the reported checks were falsified,” Jayapal said, according to The New York Times.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) acknowledged that while each cell had video surveillance, the woman was in a bathroom stall at the time, limiting visibility. Officials found her unresponsive and transported her to a hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.
Unclear link to money laundering case
The woman’s identity remains unconfirmed, but the timeline closely matches another incident. Last week, CBP arrested a 52-year-old Chinese woman and a 38-year-old man during a vehicle stop in Needles, California. Officers found more than $220,000 in cash wrapped in aluminum foil, Daily Mail reported.
CBP said the two Chinese nationals were in the U.S. illegally and faced charges under 8 U.S.C. 1182 — a statute involving visa denial for suspected criminal activity, including money laundering. Officials have not confirmed whether the deceased woman was part of that arrest.
Investigation underway
CBP said it has launched an internal review. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General is also involved.
“All in-custody deaths are tragic. We take them seriously and investigate thoroughly,” a CBP spokesperson told The New York Times.
Jayapal emphasized that this death reflects a larger pattern of neglect inside immigration detention facilities. “Another preventable death only heightens our concern,” she said.
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