CNMI DOC issues update on death of ICE Detainee Wei, Lian Yong

Northern Mariana Islands Department of Corrections

For Immediate Release

UPDATE: Death of ICE Detainee Wei, Lian Yong

The Northern Mariana Islands Department of Corrections (NMIDOC) is providing an update on the death of Lian Yong Wei, an ICE detainee housed at the Department’s facility on Saipan.

As previously reported, staff discovered Mr. Wei unresponsive during routine checks in the early morning hours of August 23, 2026. Staff immediately initiated emergency medical response. He was transported to the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation, where he was pronounced dead.

Based on the Department’s internal investigation, staff found Mr. Wei unresponsive with a ligature around his neck. The Department has treated the incident as an apparent suicide. The official cause and manner of death remain subject to the medical examiner’s determination and to reviews by the Department of Public Safety and other appropriate investigative authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. NMIDOC does not release protected health information.

In accordance with established protocols, DPS and appropriate investigative authorities were notified at the time of the incident, as was ICE. Those external reviews remain underway. The Department has cooperated fully and will continue to do so.

NMIDOC takes the safety and well-being of every person in its custody with the utmost seriousness. Following this incident, the Department is reviewing relevant procedures - including observation, intake screening, and emergency response, and will implement any necessary corrective actions to strengthen prevention and response.

Anthony C. Torres

Commissioner