WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Rep. Pramila Jayapal is calling for urgent action after the death of a Chinese national in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody marked the 12th such death in seven months under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Chaofeng Ge, 32, died Aug. 5 at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. Authorities said he was found hanging in the shower room of his detention pod during the early morning hours. The center is owned and operated by the GEO Group, a private prison contractor.

Jayapal, the ranking member of the House Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, called the death “an unacceptable tragedy” and demanded a full investigation. She said she will review the findings to understand what happened inside the privately run facility.

The Washington Democrat accused the administration of creating dangerous conditions by cutting oversight. The Department of Homeland Security recently fired more than 300 employees from its Civil Rights, Ombudsman, and Immigration Detention oversight offices.

A new policy also requires members of Congress to give one week’s notice before visiting detention centers. This change has sparked a lawsuit from 12 Democratic lawmakers who say it limits their ability to investigate conditions in real time.

Jayapal said these policy changes, combined with the spike in deaths, point to “a crisis in oversight” at ICE facilities. She warned that the problem could worsen as the administration pushes for more detention.

Jayapal criticized what she called the “Big Bad Betrayal Bill,” legislation passed by Republicans that directs billions of dollars to expand and militarize ICE. She argued the agency is already “acting as a rogue agency” and that further expansion could lead to more human rights abuses.

“I am deeply concerned about conditions at current ICE facilities,” Jayapal said. “And I am concerned about what may happen as Republicans increase detention through this bill.”

The lawmaker stressed that many detainees are not held because of criminal charges. She said nearly 65% of people in ICE custody have no criminal record. Others have only minor offenses, such as traffic violations.

Jayapal also condemned the government’s reliance on private prison companies like GEO Group to operate immigration detention centers. She said for-profit operators “cut corners at great expense to the care of people in their custody.”

Her comments come amid a broader debate over the role of private contractors in the U.S. detention system. Advocates have long accused companies of prioritizing profits over safety, pointing to reports of inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, and limited mental health support.

The 12 reported deaths in ICE custody since Trump took office include cases linked to suicide, medical neglect, and delayed treatment. Advocacy groups and members of Congress have called for more transparency about these deaths and the conditions that lead to them.

Chaofeng Ge’s death adds to growing concerns about mental health care in detention centers. Critics say detainees often face long waits to see medical professionals and have limited access to counseling or suicide prevention resources.

Jayapal’s statement adds pressure on the Biden administration’s successors to review detention policies. She urged ICE to end its use of for-profit prisons and invest in community-based alternatives to detention.

She also called for stronger oversight and independent monitoring of detention centers. “We cannot allow people to die in custody without answers, without accountability,” she said.

Her remarks echo demands from immigrant rights groups, who say the government should reduce the number of people in detention and improve conditions for those who remain in custody.

As investigations into Ge’s death continue, Jayapal vowed to keep pushing for reforms to protect detainees’ safety and dignity.