Family of Chinese Immigrant Who Died at Pa. ICE Detention Center Sues US Government Over Death and Lack of Transparency
The family of a 32-year-old Chinese immigrant who died under mysterious circumstances at a Central Pennsylvania Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center has filed a lawsuit against the US government, alleging that federal officials ignored their Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for information about his death.
Chaofeng Ge was found dead in a shower stall at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center on August 5. According to ICE's Detainee Death Report, Ge was held at the facility for several months after being convicted of accessing an electronic device issued to another person without authorization. However, the family's lawyer, David Rankin, disputes this information, stating that his client believes Ge was held at the facility for "a number of months" and claims that the reported timeline is "highly suspect."
The lawsuit alleges that Ge felt isolated in the facility because no one spoke Mandarin and the staff made no effort to communicate with him. Yangeng Ge, Chaofeng's brother, filed a FOIA request on September 9 seeking information about his brother's detention, including details about the conditions of the facility, treatment by personnel, and the circumstances of his death.
Despite receiving confirmation from the US Postal Service that ICE received the request, Ge claimed it was "unlawfully ignored" because the agency was required to inform him within 20 days whether they would comply. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and requires the agencies to release all records pertaining to Chaofeng's detention and death.
Ge's family is seeking justice, answers about how his brother died, and accountability for those responsible. The case highlights concerns over transparency in US government treatment of detainees and the need for greater accountability in cases of detainee deaths.
The family of a 32-year-old Chinese immigrant who died under mysterious circumstances at a Central Pennsylvania Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center has filed a lawsuit against the US government, alleging that federal officials ignored their Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for information about his death.
Chaofeng Ge was found dead in a shower stall at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center on August 5. According to ICE's Detainee Death Report, Ge was held at the facility for several months after being convicted of accessing an electronic device issued to another person without authorization. However, the family's lawyer, David Rankin, disputes this information, stating that his client believes Ge was held at the facility for "a number of months" and claims that the reported timeline is "highly suspect."
The lawsuit alleges that Ge felt isolated in the facility because no one spoke Mandarin and the staff made no effort to communicate with him. Yangeng Ge, Chaofeng's brother, filed a FOIA request on September 9 seeking information about his brother's detention, including details about the conditions of the facility, treatment by personnel, and the circumstances of his death.
Despite receiving confirmation from the US Postal Service that ICE received the request, Ge claimed it was "unlawfully ignored" because the agency was required to inform him within 20 days whether they would comply. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and requires the agencies to release all records pertaining to Chaofeng's detention and death.
Ge's family is seeking justice, answers about how his brother died, and accountability for those responsible. The case highlights concerns over transparency in US government treatment of detainees and the need for greater accountability in cases of detainee deaths.
i was at that ice facility in philly last year and it freaked me out, all those ppl locked up without any hope or freedom. anyway, i was just thinking about my fave food the other day... have u tried those new plant-based donuts from dunkin'? they're so good! 
my sis told me to try the strawberry flavor and now i'm hooked. sorry derailing the thread but ice detention centers are just so messed up... 
I'm really worried about this... what if they just don't want to know how someone died? 
I mean, isn't it our right as citizens to know when something like that happens? It's not like they're hiding anything good, you feel? 
This family is already suffering enough with the loss of their loved one. They deserve answers! 
. It's also important to acknowledge that language barriers can be a significant obstacle in our daily lives (or even in detention centers!). We need to recognize the importance of empathy and understanding towards those who may not share our native tongue or cultural background.
. By demanding accountability and transparency, we're not only seeking justice for the deceased, but also promoting a culture of openness and respect for human rights.
. and what really gets my goat is that the gov can just ignore an FOIA request if they want to? that's like a whole different level of corruption 
. i think this lawsuit is super necessary, though - we need more transparency and accountability in those places 
. i hope justice is served for Chaofeng Ge's family 
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it's just crazy. I mean, I know ICE can be tough, but this is ridiculous. Family's trying to get answers, and the gov't is just ignoring them? Not cool, not cool at all 
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. And for what? A minor offense like accessing an electronic device without authorization? It just doesn't seem right to me 
. The gov't needs to step up their game when it comes to transparency and accountability, especially in cases like this 
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. We need more voices speaking out about these issues, and we need change, ASAP 
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It's like, yeah, sure, the FOIA request was sent and received, but that's not good enough. The family is right, Ge felt isolated and alone because of the lack of communication, and that's not okay 
The US government needs to take responsibility and make sure something like this never happens again. 
like, what even is the point of having a Freedom of Information Act if nobody actually follows through on it? 
not asking for much. just the truth. 
does that even count as transparency? 
It's devastating when loved ones lose their lives in mysterious circumstances, especially when there's a lack of transparency and understanding from those in power. The government needs to take responsibility for its actions and provide answers to families who are left with so many unanswered questions 
. You got this Chinese immigrant, Chaofeng, who just dies under mysterious circumstances at an ICE detention center... it's like, what even happened to him? 
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