Importance Score: 74 / 100 🔴
Woman Detained by Border Patrol in Arizona Dies by Suicide
A 52-year-old Chinese woman, held in Arizona by U.S. border patrol for a visa overstay, has died by suicide, according to a statement from Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. The incident raises questions about detainee welfare and protocols within Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities.
Details of the Detention and Death
The woman was initially apprehended in California after authorities determined she had exceeded the terms of her B1/B2 visitor visa, Jayapal stated. Subsequently, she was transferred to the Yuma border patrol station in Arizona. Tragically, she remained there until her death on March 29.
News of the death was first reported by the Tucson Sentinel, which noted that border patrol officials did not initially adhere to internal guidelines regarding public acknowledgment of in-custody deaths. A statement was reportedly only released after inquiries from the Sentinel.
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Discovery of Cash and Allegations of Protocol Failure
Border patrol in the Yuma sector reported via social media that the woman and a 38-year-old man, both citizens of China, were taken into custody on March 26 during a vehicle stop near Needles, California. Agents discovered over $220,000 in cash, wrapped in aluminum foil and concealed in two duffel bags, which officials suspect are proceeds from illegal activities.
Congresswoman Jayapal stated that “preliminary reports” suggest border patrol agents may have neglected to conduct mandatory welfare checks before the woman’s death.
Congressional Concerns Regarding CBP Procedures
“When Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents take an individual into custody, they are completely responsible for their well-being,” Jayapal’s statement emphasized. “This detainee died by suicide, and initial reports indicate that specific CBP procedures designed to ensure the safety and welfare of individuals in custody were not followed.”
Jayapal, a ranking member of the House subcommittee that oversees immigration, mentioned that while welfare checks were documented as completed, investigators examining the death could not confirm if these checks actually took place.
Surveillance Footage and Delayed Response
According to Jayapal’s statement, surveillance footage depicted the woman fashioning a noose and placing it around her neck. Shockingly, nearly two hours passed before any medical intervention occurred.
Demands for Investigation and Accountability
“As the CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigates this death, they must provide answers regarding why these welfare checks were either not conducted or falsely recorded, and why this woman was able to die by suicide without any intervention from guards,” Jayapal urged.
She further voiced concern about conditions within detainment facilities amidst an ongoing immigration crackdown during the current administration’s early months.
Broader Concerns About Detainee Treatment
The congresswoman asserted that reports have consistently indicated that the U.S. is failing to meet its obligations to “treat all detained people with dignity and fairness”.
Border Patrol Statement on the Incident
A border patrol spokesperson informed the Tucson Sentinel that the woman was discovered “unresponsive in a cell” at the Yuma border patrol station on March 29. Medical assistance was rendered by border patrol staff before emergency medical services transported her to a hospital where she was pronounced dead, the spokesperson told the Sentinel.
“All in-custody deaths are tragic, treated with seriousness, and are thoroughly investigated by CBP,” the spokesperson stated.
In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org