Hiou Yuan Tsen/China/Aggravated Identity Theft

On February 5, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Chicago apprehended Hiou Yuan Tsen, a Chinese national, following his release from federal custody after serving a 61-month sentence for aggravated identity theft.

Tsen had unlawfully entered the United States and was convicted of using stolen personal information to commit financial fraud. Upon completing his prison term, ICE officers took him into custody to initiate removal proceedings. He is currently being held at an ICE detention facility pending the outcome of his immigration case.

In a similar case, on March 24, 2025, ICE officers arrested Ming Xi Zhang, a 61-year-old Chinese national and owner of Ya Ya Noodles in Montgomery Township, New Jersey. Zhang had been previously convicted in April 2024 of acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government and was sentenced to three years’ probation.

He had also pleaded guilty in May 2021 to serving as an agent of China in 2016 without notifying the U.S. Attorney General. Following his convictions, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris stated that any illegal alien conducting activities related to espionage, sabotage, or export control against the United States is subject to deportation.

Zhang was taken into ICE custody and is currently undergoing removal proceedings.