Illegal alien from China and convicted child sex offender in ICE custody passes away following suspected complications from heart surgery

SAN ANTONIO - Kai Yin Wong, a 63-year-old illegal alien from China and convicted child sex offender in ICE custody, passed away on Oct. 25, 2025, at Methodist Metropolitan Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, due to suspected complications following heart surgery.

Wong was admitted into the United States on Dec. 20, 1970, as a lawful permanent resident. On Mar. 16, 2010, he was convicted of lewd acts and continuous sexual abuse of a child, for which he received a 20-year prison sentence.

Wong's criminal record also includes a conviction for battery on Sept. 22, 1980, resulting in a 60-day incarceration.

Wong was transferred to ICE custody on Apr. 15, 2024, from Chuckwalla Valley State Prison in Blythe, California, following his release from incarceration.

On May 15, 2024, an immigration judge ordered Wong removed from the U.S. to China as an alien convicted of sexual abuse of a minor, an aggravated felony.

Wong remained in ICE custody at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas, pending removal to his home country.

On Oct. 11, 2025, emergency medical services personnel transported Wong to Frio Regional Hospital in Pearsall for shortness of breath and weakness. Later that day, Wong was airlifted to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital - West Over Hills in San Antonio, Texas, due to heart failure, possible pneumonia, and possible fluid collection in the abdomen. Wong was intubated and placed on a ventilator.

On Oct. 12, 2025, Wong was transferred to Methodist Metropolitan Hospital (MMH) for heart valve repair surgery. On Oct. 23, MMH performed mitral valve replacement surgery, but complications arose, requiring additional procedures to address cardiac tamponade, remove excess fluid, and replace the mitral valve with a balloon pump catheter.

On Oct. 25, 2025, MMH informed ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations of Wong's family's request to withdraw lifesaving measures and implement hospice protocols. Wong was pronounced dead the same day.

Consistent with ICE policy, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Joint Intake Center. ICE-ERO notified the Embassy of China in Washington, D.C., via email of Wong's death. An official cause of death will be provided once an autopsy is completed.

Upon an official report of a detained noncitizen death, ERO makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders, and the media and posts a news release with relevant details on the public website within two business days, per agency policy. This information may be accessed in the ICE.gov Newsroom. Additionally, congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Bill (2018) require ICE to make public all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days. These reports may be accessed on the Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained noncitizen denied emergent care.

ERO is one of ICE's three operational directorates and is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO's mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws. Its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency's detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of aliens who have received final orders of removal. ERO's workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.