Criminal illegal alien from China passes away at Saipan ICE facility

SAIPAN - Lianyong Wei, a 51, a criminal illegal alien from China who was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and aggravated assault and battery, passed away Aug. 23 at the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation Emergency Room. He was pronounced deceased at approximately 7:30 a.m. Chamorro Standard Time.

On Aug. 21, 2026, Wei was arrested by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety for assault with a dangerous weapon, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and aggravated assault and battery. The charges followed allegations that Wei assaulted a family of five at their residence. He was taken into ICE custody Aug. 22 without incident, pending his removal proceedings.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection paroled Wei into the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands through Saipan on Feb. 6, 2019, with authorization to remain temporarily until Feb. 16, 2019. Wei remained in Saipan beyond that date without authorization from the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued Wei a notice to appear on July 14, 2026, placing him in removal proceedings. His next hearing was scheduled for September 2026.

At approximately 7 a.m. ChST on Aug. 23, a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Corrections officer found Wei unresponsive during morning checks. Wei was immediately transported to the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation Emergency Room and life-sustaining interventions were initiated. The Department of Corrections notified Enforcement and Removal Operations San Francisco of Wei's confirmed death at approximately 7:30 a.m. ChST.

Wei's official cause of his death remains under investigation.

Consistent with ICE policy, ERO notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center. ERO has notified the Mexico consulate in accordance with international and domestic laws and notified his next of kin or other designated contact.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE's public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov's Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. You may access these reports on ICE.gov's Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care.