Officials reportedly didn’t publicly acknowledge death until inquiries were made about woman, 52, who overstayed visa

A woman being detained in Arizona by US border patrol for overstaying her visa has died by suicide, according to Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.

The woman, a 52-year-old Chinese national, had first been picked up in California after it had been determined that she had overstayed her B1/B2 visitor visa, Jayapal said in a statement. She was later sent to the Yuma station in Arizona where she stayed until her death on 29 March.

The Tucson Sentinel first reported the woman’s death, saying that border patrol officials did not follow internal policies about publicly acknowledging the death of someone in custody – and then only provided a statement after the Sentinel made inquiries.

Yuma sector border patrol reported in a social media post that two people – a 38-year-old man and the woman, both Chinese nationals – had been arrested on 26 March during a vehicle stop near Needles, California. The agents seized more than $220,000 wrapped in aluminum foil in two duffel bags which officials say was the proceeds from unspecified illegal activity.

Jayapal said “initial reports” suggest border patrol agents failed to perform required welfare checks prior to the woman’s death.