Two suspects charged for attempting to bomb an Air Force base in Florida are the children of illegal immigrants from China, the Trump administration has announced.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Friday it arrested Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng, who in 1993 applied for asylum but were denied and remained in the U.S. illegally.
CHINESE NATIONALS DETAINED — CHILDREN CONNECTED TO ATTEMPTED IED ATTACK ON MACDILL AFB
On March 18, ICE detained Chinese illegal aliens Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng, who entered the U.S. at an unknown place.
The children of these Chinese nationals, Ann Mary Zheng and Alen… pic.twitter.com/Bm2amwIlpK
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) April 6, 2026
Their two kids, who were born in the U.S., Ann Mary Zheng and Alen Zheng, were charged last month for attempting to set off an explosive device on the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on March 10.
DHS pointed to the case as an example of why the Trump administration opposes birthright citizenship, which is currently under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Automatically granting citizenship to children of illegal aliens born in the U.S. is based on a historically inaccurate interpretation of the Citizenship Clause and poses a major national security risk,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement. “That reality became apparent last week when two U.S.-born children of Chinese illegal aliens were indicted for planting a potentially deadly explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.”
“This incident underscores the severe national security threat that illegal immigration and birth right citizenship pose to the United States,” she added.
Alen Zheng, 20, allegedly tried to detonate an improvised explosive device at the base’s visitor’s center on March 10, but failed. He’s been charged with attempting to damage government property, unlawfully building a destructive device, and possessing a destructive device that was unregistered, the Department of Justice said last month.
🚨 An IED was placed at MacDill Air Force Base – home to CENTCOM and U.S. Special Operations Command.
A brother and sister have now been indicted. One is in custody for accessory and evidence tampering and the primary suspect is charged with explosives offenses and is currently… pic.twitter.com/am6YWbgZCt
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) March 26, 2026
Alen Zheng is believed to be in China. His sister, Ann Mary Zheng, 27, was arrested after returning from China and charged with accessory after the fact and evidence tampering in relation to the attempted bombing.
“Ann Mary Zheng, knowing that her brother, Alen Zheng, had attempted to damage government property by fire or explosion, assisted him in order to hinder and prevent his apprehension, trial, and punishment,” the DOJ said in a statement.
According to the DOJ, Alen Zheng faces five to 40 years in prison, while Ann Mary Zheng faces up to 30 years.
Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng are currently in ICE custody.
DHS said birthright citizenship has been abused by being granted to children of illegal aliens, citing President Trump’s executive order that sought to end the practice.
