A Chinese restaurant owner in New Jersey finds himself at the center of a complex immigration and espionage case that has captured the attention of local authorities and community members alike.
According to The New York Post, Ming Xi Zhang, the 61-year-old proprietor of Ya Ya Noodles in Montgomery Township, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Newark on March 24, following his conviction for acting as an unregistered Chinese government agent.
Zhang, known locally as "Sushi John," entered the United States legally in 2000 but subsequently violated his admission terms. His arrest follows a guilty plea in May 2021, where he admitted to serving as an agent of China in 2016 without proper registration with the U.S. Attorney General.
Zhang's involvement with Chinese officials included clandestine meetings in the Bahamas during 2016, where he participated in activities benefiting the Chinese government. He facilitated the transfer of $35,000 to an undisclosed individual in New Jersey and hosted a Chinese government agent twice at his Princeton residence that fall.
The restaurant owner received a relatively lenient sentence of three years' probation in April 2024 for his role as an unregistered foreign agent. However, his legal troubles escalated when ICE agents determined he had violated his immigration status.
John Tsoukaris, ICE Newark Field Office Director, emphasized the serious nature of Zhang's actions, stating that individuals engaging in espionage-related activities against the United States face deportation.
The local community has demonstrated strong support for Zhang since his detention at the Elizabeth Detention Center. His restaurant continues to operate, with employees reporting an outpouring of assistance from town residents.
Restaurant staff members describe a surge in customer visits and offers of help from community members. Many patrons have reached out to Zhang's family, providing contact information and expressing their support.
The case unfolds amid President Trump's renewed push for stricter immigration enforcement and expanded detention authority over illegal immigrants.
Zhang's case intersects with several high-profile immigration proceedings currently making headlines. The Supreme Court recently addressed a related deportation case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, highlighting the complex nature of current immigration enforcement policies.
Similar cases have emerged nationwide, including that of Mahmoud Khalil, whose deportation was approved by an immigration judge due to national security concerns stemming from pro-Palestine demonstrations.
These developments occur as the Trump administration continues to implement aggressive deportation policies, leading to increased ICE enforcement actions across the country.
Ming Xi Zhang remains in ICE custody at the Elizabeth Detention Center as his immigration case progresses through the system. The former restaurant owner faces potential deportation following his conviction for acting as an unregistered Chinese government agent and subsequent immigration violations.
His case exemplifies the intersection of national security concerns and immigration enforcement, as federal authorities continue their crackdown on individuals accused of working for foreign governments without proper registration. While Zhang awaits his fate in detention, his restaurant remains operational with strong community backing, demonstrating the complex social dynamics surrounding immigration enforcement actions.
