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CBP Confirms In-Custody Death of Chinese National
A Chinese woman died by suicide at the notoriously inhumane Blythe Border Patrol station in Yuma, Arizona
Last week, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07) released a statement documenting the death of a 52-year-old unnamed Chinese woman at a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) station in Yuma, Arizona. Officials initially indicated that her death took place out of the view of cameras. Jayapal said agents failed to conduct welfare checks as required.
The woman was taken into custody last week in California during a traffic stop by agents assigned to roving patrol operations for being in the country on an expired visitor visa. A 38-year-old Chinese male was also taken into custody. The woman was later transferred to Arizona.
“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,” said Jayapal. “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.”
In a press release confirming her death, CBP verified Jayapal’s claims of agents not performing their required checks after a review by CBP’s Office…
