“It’s really confusing how a detention center could let someone leave their room, make three nooses, and then hang themselves without anyone noticing,” said David B. Rankin, the victim’s attorney. “Even worse is the lack of mental health care, which could have stopped this tragedy. Mr. Ge’s death shows a complete failure by GeoGroup and the DHS.”
The 32-year-old Chaofeng Ge died on August 5th, just four days after being put in ICE custody in Pennsylvania.
The ICE report — an agency known for being cruel and dishonest under Kristi Noem’s leadership — says agents found Ge with “a cloth ligature around his neck.”
The autopsy showed he had been tied up with a bedsheet and “hog-tied” with linens around his ankles and wrists.
The medical examiner also mentioned that there have been other cases where people supposedly harmed themselves in similar ways.
On August 1st, Ge was evaluated through an interpreter and said he had no medical or mental health problems.
Just four days later, he was found unconscious in a shower and died 40 minutes later.
“I’m heartbroken by the loss of my brother and knowing he suffered so much in that detention center,” said Yanfeng Ge, the deceased’s brother.
“He didn’t deserve to be treated like that. I want justice for my brother, answers about how this happened, and for those responsible to be held accountable.”
Newsweek reports that at least 15 immigrants have died in ICE facilities during Trump’s second term.
Until these harsh practices stop, that number will keep growing.
Ge’s family has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, asking for answers about their loved one’s death.
They claim ICE didn’t provide proper mental health care to Ge.
The most likely explanation for his death is suicide, but even without defensive wounds, it’s hard to rule out foul play.
Given how Trump’s MAGA supporters treat migrants, it’s not hard to imagine someone being pushed to this point. Even if Ge took his own life, it’s still a tragedy. This young man didn’t need to be scared and treated so badly in such terrible conditions. Because of this administration’s policies, an innocent man has died.
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