Chinese Woman Dies by Suicide in U.S. Border Custody in Arizona

A 52-year-old Chinese woman detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) committed suicide at a border patrol station in Yuma, Arizona, after being apprehended for overstaying her visitor visa. Representative Pramila Jayapal criticized the agency for allegedly failing to conduct necessary welfare checks on the detainee and reported that surveillance footage shows her preparing to hang herself, with medical assistance reportedly delayed for two hours. Jayapal emphasized that CBP agents are responsible for the well-being of individuals in custody and questioned the accuracy of the logged welfare checks, stating that some could not be verified. The incident has raised serious concerns about the conditions in detention facilities and the protocols followed by border agents. As a result, the case has prompted an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General. CBP confirmed the woman's death and is under scrutiny for its handling of the situation.