A 32-year-old Chinese language man has taken his personal life simply 5 days after coming into US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, in an incident that has reignited issues over the security and situations inside America’s immigration detention system.
From Arrest to Tragedy
ICE recognized the person as Chaofeng Ge, a Chinese language nationwide arrested on 23 January by Decrease Paxton Township Police in Pennsylvania on expenses of prison use of a communication facility, illegal laptop use, and entry machine fraud. The next day, ICE’s Enforcement and Elimination Operations (ERO) lodged an immigration detainer.
On 31 July, Ge pleaded responsible to unauthorised machine entry and conspiracy, receiving concurrent sentences of six to 12 months. He was launched instantly into ICE custody and transferred to the Moshannon Valley Processing Centre (MVPC).
In response to ICE, customary protocol was adopted, together with notifications to the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), the Workplace of Inspector Normal, the Workplace of Skilled Duty, and the Chinese language Embassy.
What ICE Claims on Deceased Immigrant
In a statement regarding the incident, ICE said that on January 23, Decrease Paxton Township Police arrested Ge for prison use of a communication facility, illegal laptop use, and entry machine fraud. ICE Philadelphia’s ERO York workplace lodged an immigration detainer the subsequent day.
On July 31, Ge pleaded responsible to unauthorised machine entry and conspiracy, receiving concurrent six-to-12-month sentences with speedy launch to ICE custody. ERO York processed and transferred him to the Moshannon Valley Processing Centre (MVPC). According to coverage, ICE notified DHS, the Inspector Normal, OPR, and the Chinese language Embassy.
In response to recordings from Broadcastify, which archives first responder communications nationwide, Ge was final seen alive at 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday. About an hour later, he was present in a bathe room, suspended by a ligature and in cardiac arrest. First responders reported that he was “minimize down,” given CPR, and subjected to different intensive medical efforts. He was pronounced lifeless round 6 a.m.
ICE Defends Prisons’ Situations
In the identical assertion, ICE states that it stays dedicated to making sure that each one these in its custody reside in protected, safe, and humane environments.
‘All folks in ICE custody obtain medical, dental and psychological well being consumption screening inside 12 hours of arriving at every detention facility, a full well being evaluation inside 14 days of coming into ICE custody or arrival at a facility, entry to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time throughout detention is a detained unlawful alien denied emergent care,’ they defined.
The company additionally added that they make official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organisation stakeholders, and the media upon an official report of a detained unlawful alien’s loss of life and submit a information launch with related particulars on the ICE public web site inside two enterprise days per company coverage.
However How Are The Prisons?
Chatting with The Intercept anonymously, a former detainee at MVPC, held there in late 2023 and later launched, claimed that he continues to maintain involved with folks nonetheless inside. He additionally famous that confinement at Moshannon is especially tough for Chinese language detainees.
‘Language translation providers are missing, so folks really feel remoted,’ mentioned the immigrant. ‘And after they’re judged detachable, ICE takes 5 – 6 months to gather sufficient of them to fill a deportation flight for China. The stress of the ready is unhealthy.’
Throughout a number of ICE-managed and contracted services, detainees report alarming conditions—overcrowding, unsanitary environments, and an absence of medical and psychological well being care. On the Northwest Detention Centre in Tacoma, starvation strikes have erupted over ‘severely unsanitary situations’ and restricted medical consideration.
In Manhattan’s 26 Federal Plaza holding web site, a court docket ordered enhancements after detainees have been confined in cramped, soiled rooms with out cleaning soap or sleeping mats.
‘These are the worst situations I’ve seen in my 20-year profession,’ Paul Chavez, litigation and advocacy director at People for Immigrant Justice, informed the New York Times. ‘Situations have been by no means nice, however that is horrendous.’
How Prevalent are Deaths in ICE Services?
Between fiscal years (FY) 2021 and 2023, ICE reported 12 deaths in its custody—a decline from 38 deaths reported throughout FY 2018–2020. The loss of life charge per 100,000 admissions dropped from a pandemic peak of 10.83 in FY 2020 to three.25 in FY 2021, 0.94 in FY 2022, and 1.46 in FY 2023.
Nonetheless, the 2025 fiscal 12 months is proving to be one of many deadliest on document, with 13 deaths already reported—surpassing the 12 whole recorded in FY 2024 and elevating alarms amid dire overcrowding.
Taken collectively, these accounts reveal a troubling portrait of ICE’s detention system—one marked by speedy enlargement, inadequate assets, and preventable tragedies. From allegations of overcrowding and neglect to the regular toll of in-custody deaths, the information and testimonies recommend systemic failures that persist regardless of official oversight and reporting necessities.
A System Beneath Scrutiny
Ge’s loss of life provides to a troubling document of fatalities and allegations of neglect inside ICE’s increasing detention community. Critics argue that the mix of indefinite waits, language obstacles, and inconsistent care creates a risky surroundings the place preventable tragedies are all too widespread.
Whereas ICE maintains it’s dedicated to humane remedy, for a lot of advocates the numbers — and the testimonies — inform a special story.
