A 32-year-old Chinese immigrant, Chaofeng Ge, was found dead in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in Pennsylvania on August 5, 2023.
Ge’s family, his attorneys, and advocates are now calling for justice and answers surrounding his death, which raises questions about the conditions in ICE facilities and the circumstances of his final days in custody.
Who was Chaofeng Ge?
Chaofeng Ge died on August 5, 2023, four days after being taken into ICE custody. His death occurred at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center (MVPC) in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, a facility run by the GEO Group.
According to ICE’s initial report, Ge was found by officers with a “cloth ligature around his neck.” He was discovered in a shower stall, regardless of attempts to revive him, including CPR, he was pronounced dead approximately 40 minutes later.
The death certificate lists the cause of death as “suicide by hanging,” but details from the autopsy report have left many questions unanswered. A lawyer representing Ge’s family has claimed that the autopsy failed to provide clarity on how such an incident could have occurred.
Family seeks justice
Chaofeng Ge’s older brother, Yanfeng Ge, expressed devastation and anger over the death of his sibling. In a statement shared with Newsweek, Yanfeng said, “I am devastated by the loss of my brother and by the knowledge that he was suffering so greatly in that detention center. He did not deserve to be treated that way. I want justice for my brother, answers as to how this could have happened, and accountability for those responsible for his death.”
Seeking justice and transparency, Yanfeng and his legal team filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court. The family is requesting access to records that could explain the circumstances of Ge’s death, including any surveillance footage, medical records, and internal ICE reports.
As the investigation into Chaofeng Ge’s death continues, his family remains steadfast in their pursuit of justice. The lawsuit filed by Yanfeng Ge seeks transparency and accountability from ICE and the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
“That deepens our determination,” Yanfeng Ge said during a recent news conference. “We are not giving up until we know the truth.”
How was Chaofeng Ge’s health condition during his last days?
Chaofeng Ge, a resident of Flushing, New York, was arrested by ICE on July 31, 2023, after completing a sentence for credit card fraud. He had been incarcerated in Dauphin County Prison, Pennsylvania, for six to twelve months.
After serving his sentence, ICE detained him and transferred him to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
ICE’s intake report indicates that Ge underwent a medical screening when he was admitted into custody. A Mandarin interpreter helped assess his medical history, and according to the report, Ge denied any past medical or mental health conditions and stated that he was not taking any medication.
He was then placed in the general population at the facility.
However, the family’s lawsuit alleges that ICE has not been forthcoming with critical information about Ge’s treatment or the conditions that may have contributed to his death.
Regardless of submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on September 9, 2023, the family has received no response from ICE regarding the circumstances of Ge’s death.
ICE’s response
ICE has responded to the allegations surrounding Ge’s death by stating that “All in-custody deaths are tragic, taken seriously, and are thoroughly investigated by law enforcement,” reports Documented NY.
However, ICE did not address the specific allegations made by Ge’s family in the lawsuit.
The agency’s report on Ge’s death stated that he was assessed during his intake at Moshannon Valley Processing Center and found to be in good health, with no prior history of medical or mental health issues.
ICE’s report also noted that Ge had been released into the general population, but there is no further explanation regarding why he was found with his hands and feet tied.
Advocates and the family’s legal team have questioned the agency’s narrative, particularly the claim of suicide, pointing to the absence of clear evidence to support that conclusion.
ICE custody and facility conditions
ICE facility has drawn criticism from advocacy groups, which have long raised alarms about the physical and emotional isolation faced by detainees.
As reported by Documented NY, a 2024 report from Temple University also reported widespread complaints from detainees about physical and psychological abuse, medical neglect, and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and religion.
Moshannon, a former federal prison, is now the largest immigration detention center in the Northeast. It is situated 259 miles west of New York City, where many detainees, including Ge, are transferred after being arrested in New York.
According to data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the number of detainees transferred to Moshannon has dramatically increased in recent years, from just 22 in 2022 to 225 in 2025.
This rise in detainee transfers comes amid an overall surge in ICE detentions under the Trump administration, during which a significant increase in deaths in ICE custody has been noted.
ICE custody deaths under Trump 2.0
Chaofeng Ge is one of at least 15 immigrants who have died while in ICE custody during the second Trump administration.
Deaths in ICE detention have been a persistent issue, with advocacy groups warning for years that the agency’s detention practices are inhumane.
In 2024 alone, 12 individuals died while in ICE custody, underscoring the growing concerns about the safety and wellbeing of detainees.
As reported by Documented NY, ICE continues to defend its practices, claiming that it operates within the bounds of the law and that all deaths are thoroughly investigated.
Yet, the rising number of deaths, particularly under conditions of prolonged isolation and alleged mistreatment, has increased calls for significant reform and accountability.
