Concerns raised after Chinese woman dies at Border Patrol station in Yuma
YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — A Chinese woman who had overstayed her visa died while in custody at a U.S. Border Patrol facility in Yuma. Officials say she died by suicide, but growing concerns are emerging about whether proper welfare checks were conducted at the facility.
Investigators with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Responsibility are looking into her death but found that while six welfare checks were documented, they were never actually conducted.
A news release from CBP’s Yuma sector states that the 52-year-old Chinese national, whose name hasn’t been released, arrived at their facility on March 27.
On March 29, surveillance cameras reportedly captured her making a noose and tying it around her neck. She was found unresponsive about an hour later and taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
ACLU policy strategist Noah Schramm says it raises concerns about the level of care provided within CBP facilities.
“It’s tragic whenever someone dies in border patrol custody. CBP is taking them into custody and therefore adopting responsibility for that person and that person’s well-being so it’s on them when this stuff happens. Obviously, there are situations that arise that can be out of their control,” said Schramm.
According to CBP officials, the Chinese woman had overstayed her visa and was traveling with another Chinese national who was unlawfully present in the U.S. Officers found $200,000 wrapped in foil paper in their car. A social media post from Border Patrol claims the money was connected to illegal activity.
In light of this death, Schramm says the handling of detainees within these facilities needs to be looked at.
“There have been cases over the years where there have been deaths in custody where they were clearly preventable on the side of CBP,” he said.
A federal lawmaker from Washington is also sounding the alarm on the death.
In a statement, U.S. House Rep. Pramila Jayapal said, “They must provide answers on why these welfare checks were not conducted and falsely recorded, and why this woman was able to die by suicide without any guard intervention.”
She added that immigrant deaths in custody have been a growing concern after two detained people died in custody last year at the Northwest Immigrant Processing Center. CBP’s most recent records indicate that there were 52 in-custody deaths in 2022.
The preliminary cause of death for the woman was determined to be suicide by asphyxia (suffocation or choking.)
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