U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained two Chinese nationals illegally residing in the U.S., who are accused of defrauding elderly Americans of significant sums of money, officials revealed on Tuesday.
“Preying on our most vulnerable citizens by attempting to strip them of their life savings requires a special kind of malice,” stated ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Deputy Field Office Director Joseph Freden. “We are dedicated to apprehending and deporting individuals who compromise the safety of our communities and the integrity of our legal system.”
The suspects, charged with separate crimes, have been identified as Jian Chen and Rihui Yan.
Both are being held without bond pending removal.
Rihui Yan is accused of attempting to swindle an elderly couple out of their life savings.
“The HSI Massena investigation highlights our commitment to disrupting transnational criminal groups that aim to exploit vulnerable communities,” stated HSI Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan. “We refuse to allow malicious actors – like these Chinese nationals illegally present in the U.S. – to victimize innocent New Yorkers for selfish gains,”
A third Chinese suspect, Hui Chen, was arrested on similar charges in October 2024 and is in custody pending deportation, authorities said.
A law enforcement officer walks past ICE logo ahead of a press conference on Thursday, May 11, 2017, at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Border officials told Fox News last year that the fastest growing group of illegal migrants crossing the southern border was coming from China.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has led a massive removal campaign targeting criminal aliens across the country.
