China National Gets 14 Months for Airport Removal Fight

SAIPAN, CNMI – A 55-year-old citizen of the People’s Republic of China, ZHANG Aimin, is headed back to his home country after receiving a 14-month federal prison sentence for a brazen attempt to thwart his own immigration removal. The sentencing, handed down August 7, 2025, in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, underscores the federal government’s hard line on immigration enforcement, and a zero-tolerance policy for those who actively resist.

ZHANG Aimin was initially charged with Preventing or Hampering Removal, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1253(a). The incident unfolded on April 30, 2025, at Saipan International Airport. As ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers attempted to facilitate ZHANG’s departure, he flatly refused to exit the transport vehicle, delaying his scheduled flight. What began as passive resistance quickly escalated into a physical struggle, endangering both officers and himself.

According to court documents, ZHANG eventually exited the vehicle, only to immediately become physically uncooperative. He latched onto a light pole, then shockingly attempted to insert his hand into an exposed electrical port – a reckless act that presented a serious safety risk. After officers pried him loose from the pole, ZHANG grabbed a signpost, ignoring repeated lawful commands to release his grip. During the struggle, he briefly pinned an officer’s arm between the post and his own body, causing minor injury.

The 8-month sentence for Preventing or Hampering Removal wasn’t ZHANG’s only penalty. He also received an additional 6 months, to be served consecutively, stemming from a violation of his supervised release related to a prior conviction for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. This demonstrates a pattern of disregard for U.S. law, and a willingness to repeatedly cross the line. ZHANG will be turned over to immigration officials for deportation proceedings immediately upon his release from prison.

“The enforcement of immigration laws is our highest priority,” stated United States Attorney SHAWN N. ANDERSON. “ZHANG showed no respect for the law or the officers working to uphold it. This case demonstrates the federal government’s ongoing commitment to removing illegal aliens from our country.” The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Garth Backe.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case, and report on any further developments. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by federal law enforcement officials tasked with upholding immigration laws in remote territories like the Northern Mariana Islands. It also sends a clear message: resistance is futile, and will be met with the full force of the law.

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