PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: A Chinese national detained by U.S. border officers died by suicide while in custody at a border patrol station.

Who’s Involved: The 52-year-old Chinese woman, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).

Where & When: The woman was initially detained in California and transferred to a Yuma, Arizona patrol station following her arrest on March 26.

Key Quote: “There is no excuse for why agents cannot verify if some of the necessary welfare checks occurred” – Rep. Jayapal.

Impact: Questions raised about the welfare check procedures, and concerns over detainee conditions.

IN FULL:

A Chinese national detained by U.S. border officers has died by suicide while in custody, according to Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). The woman, 52, who was being held at a border patrol station in Yuma, Arizona, had been apprehended in California after it was determined she had overstayed her visitor visa.

Concerns have arisen regarding the welfare checks conducted during her detention. Representative Jayapal, an Indian immigrant who oversees immigration issues within a House subcommittee, noted discrepancies in the reported welfare checks on the detainee. “There is no excuse for why agents cannot verify if some of the necessary welfare checks occurred—or why some of the documented welfare checks were incorrectly reported,” she claimed.

The deceased initially entered the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 visa, utilized for short-term business or tourism purposes. A CBP spokesman stated that the woman became unresponsive in her cell at the Yuma facility. Despite receiving medical attention and being transported to a nearby hospital, she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The case has prompted an investigation by the office charged with monitoring agency conduct, and the death has been reported to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General.

The specific details surrounding the woman’s initial detainment remain partially unclear. However, social media updates from the Yuma sector of the Border Patrol detailed that two Chinese nationals were apprehended on March 26 in Needles, California. This led to the discovery of more than $220,000 in cash, suspected of being connected to illegal activities. However, it has not been confirmed whether the money is linked directly to the deceased woman.

The post Chinese Detainee Commits Suicide at Arizona Border Station. appeared first on The National Pulse.