A Chinese citizen applying for political asylum in the United States was found carrying an undeclared handgun and ammunition in her checked luggage at an airport in Utah. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday, 53-year-old Chinese citizen Xuemei Zhao was formally charged on March 20, by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City for firearms offenses.
Zhao was scheduled to board American Airlines flight 6189 from Provo Airport in Utah to Fort Worth, Dallas. TSA personnel found a black Rossi Braztech Int’l .357 caliber revolver in her checked luggage. Before handing over the luggage to American Airlines, Zhao did not declare any firearms to TSA or the airline. In addition to the handgun, government officials found 9 rounds of .357 caliber ammunition in her carry-on luggage.
Zhao was subsequently detained, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched an investigation. ICE confirmed that she entered on a tourist visa and is currently seeking political asylum. She is not a lawful permanent resident of the United States (does not hold a “green card”).
Zhao is charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a restricted person (foreign national) in the U.S. She is scheduled to appear in court for her initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City on Friday afternoon.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s field office in Salt Lake City, with support from ICE and TSA. The Department of Justice described this case as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative aimed at mobilizing resources to combat illegal immigration, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and protect communities from violent criminals.
“Operation Take Back America” integrates the efforts and resources of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.