By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to appeal a Saipan immigration judge’s decision to grant a $10,000 bond for the temporary release of former Imperial Pacific International Chairwoman Lijie Cui, who is facing removal proceedings for allegedly overstaying her E‑2C long‑term investor visa.
Cui was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this month. On Jan. 27, Honolulu Immigration Court Judge Clarence Wagner, presiding via teleconference, approved the bond and scheduled the next hearing for Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.
Wagner ruled that Cui does not pose a danger to the community and that a $10,000 bond was appropriate. He ordered that she be released after posting the bond, attend all future hearings, and report to DHS as required.
Cui was represented by attorney Richard Wilner, who told the court that his client has a pending I‑130 petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which they have asked to expedite. An approved petition could allow her to pursue adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.
Shannon Fruthranjit, a DHS attorney, objected to Cui’s release, citing a previous contempt order issued by the District Court for the NMI in a labor case filed by seven workers who alleged workplace injuries. Cui, a third-party witness in that case, was found in contempt for violating a preservation order and was ordered to pay more than $40,000 in sanctions, which she later satisfied. Cui previously told the court she had followed her attorney’s advice at the time.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the DHS attorney said she intends to appeal the bond decision. Wilner responded that his client was willing to increase the bond amount if DHS would withdraw the appeal, but the DHS attorney declined.
Cui, a Chinese national and longtime Hong Kong resident, was a central figure in IPI, which operated Saipan’s casino for four years before shutting down in March 2020 at the onset of the Covid‑19 pandemic. She and her son, Xiabo Ji, oversaw the development of the casino and hotel project in Garapan.
As a foreign investor in a U.S. jurisdiction, Cui is required to maintain a valid E‑2C visa to remain in the CNMI.
IPI filed for bankruptcy in April 2024, reporting more than $165 million in liabilities. Team King Investment (CNMI) LLC completed its $12.95 million purchase of IPI’s casino assets last year following a court-approved auction.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
