Yia Xiong/Laos/Criminal Sexual Conduct

Yia Xiong, a 44-year-old illegal alien from Laos, was arrested in Minnesota by Homeland Security Investigations St. Paul with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Xiong is a convicted sex offender with a felony conviction for third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim who was unable to consent. The arrest follows a coordinated law enforcement effort targeting high-priority criminal fugitives with histories of sexual violence and immigration violations. Xiong was located and taken into custody without incident. He had previously evaded immigration enforcement despite his conviction and illegal status in the United States. Records confirm he has no lawful immigration status, and his prior felony sex offense makes him a removable criminal alien under U.S. immigration law.

Xiong is currently being detained pending immigration removal proceedings. No bond has been set. His arrest is part of an ongoing enforcement operation focused on identifying and apprehending criminal aliens with sex offense convictions. ICE has confirmed that removal proceedings are active and underway.