A New Jersey man previously convicted of operating as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government is now in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, nearly a year after receiving probation in a federal espionage case.
Ming Xi Zhang, also known as “Sushi John,” was detained by ICE agents on March 24. Zhang, who owns a sushi restaurant in New Jersey, was sentenced to three years’ probation in 2023 after pleading guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent on behalf of the People’s Republic of China.
🚨 BREAKING: Ming Xi Zhang, a convicted Chinese spy, arrested in New Jersey – NYP
ICE may now deport him.
Zhang, known as “Sushi John,” 61, owns Ya Ya Noodles in Montgomery Township, NJ.
ICE NEWARK: “Any illegal alien conducting activities related to espionage, sabotage or… pic.twitter.com/syKPd0pl0v
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 12, 2025
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Zhang originally entered the United States legally in 2000, but ICE now says he “violated the terms of his lawful admission.”
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As a result, he was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey, pending removal proceedings.
ICE Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris issued a statement following the arrest, stating, “Any illegal alien conducting activities related to espionage, sabotage, or export control against the United States is subject to deportation.”
ICE arrested Ming Xi Zhang, a Chinese national who was sentenced last year for acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney General. He was detained March 24 in Newark, New Jersey, and remains in ICE custody. https://t.co/DzG93reLpG pic.twitter.com/Q1qjFkkoih
— ERO Newark (@ERONewark) March 26, 2025
The criminal charges against Zhang stem from activities that occurred in 2016.
According to federal court documents, Zhang traveled to the Bahamas to meet with Chinese security officials and subsequently delivered $35,000 to an unnamed individual in New Jersey.
In the same year, he admitted to hosting a Chinese government agent at his residence in Princeton on two separate occasions.
In May 2021, Zhang entered a guilty plea in federal court, acknowledging that he had acted on behalf of the Chinese government without registering with the U.S. Attorney General, as required by law.
Despite the national security implications, Zhang was sentenced to probation instead of serving time in federal prison.
This recent ICE action follows growing concern over foreign influence operations on U.S. soil, particularly those linked to adversarial governments.
Zhang’s case has become part of a broader conversation about enforcement gaps and immigration policy, especially in situations involving foreign nationals with ties to hostile intelligence services.
President Donald Trump’s administration has renewed efforts to crack down on unlawful presence and deport individuals involved in national security-related offenses.
The renewed focus comes as part of a larger immigration enforcement strategy aimed at removing those who pose risks to the United States.
In a parallel legal development, a federal judge in Washington ruled on Saturday that ICE has the authority to conduct enforcement operations in areas previously considered “sensitive locations,” such as churches and other religious institutions.
The ruling marks a win for the Trump administration, which has advocated for broader federal authority to carry out immigration enforcement in all areas of the country.
The decision is expected to impact future enforcement operations, particularly in cities and states that have declared sanctuary status or have otherwise sought to limit federal immigration actions.
As of now, Zhang remains in ICE custody while awaiting a ruling on his immigration status. No date for his immigration hearing has been publicly announced.
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