ICE Arrests Billionaire in Remote US Territory

A billionaire investor who once financed a high-profile casino development on a remote U.S. island is now being held in federal custody over her immigration status.

ICE has detained Cui Lijie, a 68-year-old Chinese businesswoman who played a central role in the rise of the now-defunct Imperial Pacific casino complex on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific, according to Newsweek. Local outlet Marianas Variety reports that Cui was arrested Tuesday by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations unit on suspicion of immigration violations and is currently being held at the Department of Corrections facility in Susupe.

Authorities have not disclosed the specific allegations against Cui, confirmed her current visa status, or announced when she may face an immigration hearing.

Cui was the majority owner of Imperial Pacific International, a Hong Kong–based company that once held Saipan’s exclusive casino license. The company’s operations later collapsed amid financial troubles and a series of scandals. Cui and her son, Ji Xiaobo, previously made their fortune in Macau’s casino junket industry before shifting their focus to casino and hotel development in Saipan, including the lavish Imperial Pacific Palace.

A 2018 Bloomberg investigation linked the project to alleged illegal employment of Chinese workers, serious safety violations, and substantial payments to local officials and their relatives. In 2020, three executives connected to Imperial Pacific and its construction contractor were indicted on charges that included unlawfully employing foreign workers and transferring more than $24 million into the U.S. to support illegal activities.

The casino ceased operations in March 2020, and Imperial Pacific filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2024, reporting approximately $166 million in liabilities.

Cui’s arrest has renewed attention on Saipan’s immigration system. While some Chinese visitors can enter the territory without a visa, foreign investors are required to maintain valid E-2C long-term investor visas. According to The Standard, Cui’s visa may have expired.

Original Source