Chinese National Dies in ICE Custody After Arrest in Dauphin County
Phillipsburg, PA — August 8, 2025
A 32-year-old Chinese national has died in federal immigration custody just five days after being transferred from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Authorities say Chaofeng Ge was found hanging in the shower room of the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Phillipsburg early Tuesday morning.
Ge was arrested in January 2025 in Lower Paxton Township after allegedly attempting to purchase gift cards using stolen credit card information at a local CVS Pharmacy. Police discovered numerous stolen credit card numbers stored on his phone. He pleaded guilty to credit card fraud and related charges in late July and was sentenced to six to twelve months in prison.
Following his sentencing, Ge was released directly into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which had lodged a detainer with Dauphin County Prison. He was awaiting an immigration court hearing at the time of his death.
Ge was discovered unresponsive around 5:21 a.m. Tuesday, hanging by his neck in the shower room of his detention pod. Despite immediate CPR efforts and emergency medical response, he was pronounced dead at 6:03 a.m. by the Clearfield County coroner.
Investigators found a handwritten note at the scene, and Pennsylvania State Police have ruled the death a suicide. No foul play is suspected.
ICE stated that it had notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Chinese Embassy. The agency emphasized its commitment to providing “safe, secure, and humane environments” for detainees, including comprehensive medical and mental health screenings within 12 hours of arrival.
Ge had previously lived in Flushing, Queens, New York, before his arrest in Pennsylvania.
Ge’s death has prompted renewed scrutiny of ICE detention practices and mental health support for detainees. Advocates are calling for increased transparency and oversight, especially in cases involving vulnerable individuals awaiting immigration proceedings.
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