Chinese woman detained by US border patrol in Arizona dies by suicide | Officials reportedly didn’t publicly acknowledge death until inquiries were made about woman, 52

> A woman being detained in Arizona by US border patrol for overstaying her visa has died by suicide, according to Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.

> The woman, a 52-year-old Chinese national, had first been picked up in California after it had been determined that she had overstayed her B1/B2 visitor visa, Jayapal said in a statement. She was later sent to the Yuma station in Arizona where she stayed until her death on 29 March.

> *The Tucson Sentinel* [first reported](https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/040325_yuma_bp_death/chinese-woman-commits-suicide-az-border-patrol-station-bp-failed-conduct-welfare-checks/) the woman’s death, saying that **border patrol officials did not follow internal policies about publicly acknowledging the death of someone in custody – and then only provided a statement after the** ***Sentinel*** **made inquiries**.

> Yuma sector border patrol reported in a social media post that two people – a 38-year-old man and the woman, both Chinese nationals – had been arrested on 26 March during a vehicle stop near Needles, California. The agents seized more than $220,000 wrapped in aluminum foil in two duffel bags which officials say was the proceeds from unspecified illegal activity.

> Jayapal said “initial reports” suggest border patrol agents failed to perform required welfare checks prior to the woman’s death.

> “When Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents take a person into custody, they are responsible for their well-being, full stop,” Jayapal’s statement read. “This detainee died by suicide, and **initial reports have indicated that certain CBP procedures to ensure the safety and welfare of individuals in custody were not conducted**.”

> Jayapal, a ranking member of the House subcommittee overseeing immigration, said that while welfare checks were logged, officials investigating the death could not verify whether the checks had actually happened.

> According to Jayapal’s statement, surveillance footage showed the woman create a noose and tie it around her neck – but no medical response occurred for nearly two hours.

!ping IMMIGRATION