A federal judge has revoked the US citizenship of a naturalized married couple from China after their 2021 convictions for stealing sensitive medical trade secrets and sharing them with China. On March 30, Judge James E. Simmons Jr. of California’s Southern District ruled that their crimes showed a lack of the “good moral character” required for American citizenship.
Core Facts
Li Chen and Yu Zhou pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets and wire fraud. They were found guilty of using stolen technology for personal profit and to benefit the Chinese government. The couple worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, for a decade before founding a biotech company in China using the stolen trade secrets.
Deeper Context
The case reflects the US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) broader enforcement approach under the Trump administration, which has expanded denaturalization efforts to include white-collar crimes. The DoJ stated that the couple’s actions constituted an “unacceptable abuse of the immigration system.”
Official Rationale
US Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that gaining citizenship after committing serious crimes undermines the integrity of the immigration system. The DoJ highlighted that the couple received funding from China’s State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs and that Chen received support from the Chinese government in setting up the business.
Policy Implications
The denaturalization order aligns with the DoJ’s stated goal of “maximally pursuing” denaturalization wherever legally possible. Past administrations primarily targeted terrorists and human rights violators, but the current approach includes white-collar crimes.
Background Details
Zhou entered the US in 2005 as an exchange visitor and later adjusted his immigration status to permanent resident in 2011 as the derivative spouse of Chen. Chen became a naturalized US citizen in 2016, and Zhou in 2017. The couple was arrested after their crimes were uncovered.