By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
FORMER Imperial Pacific International majority shareholder Lijie Cui was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody Wednesday and is now awaiting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services adjudication of her application to adjust status, Variety learned.
Cui’s release followed a Jan. 27 ruling by Honolulu Immigration Court Judge Clarence Wagner, who granted a $10,000 bond after determining she did not pose a danger to the community. Cui, who is facing removal proceedings for allegedly overstaying her E-2C long-term investor visa, had been detained earlier.
Judge Wagner ordered that Cui be released upon posting bond, attend all future hearings, and comply with reporting requirements set by the Department of Homeland Security. Her next immigration court hearing remains scheduled for Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.
Attorney Richard Wilner, representing Cui, told the court she has a pending I-130 petition with USCIS, which the defense has requested be expedited. Approval of the petition could allow Cui to pursue adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident. Following her release, she is now awaiting USCIS action on that application.
DHS immigration attorney Shannon Fruthranjit objected to Cui’s release, citing a previous contempt order issued by the NMI District Court in a labor case involving seven workers who alleged workplace injuries. Cui, a third-party witness in that case, was sanctioned more than $40,000 for violating a preservation order — an amount she later paid. Cui previously told the court she had acted on the advice of her attorney at the time.
During the Jan. 27 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 government declined.
Cui, a Chinese national and longtime Hong Kong resident, played a central role in IPI’s operations during the company’s four-year run as Saipan’s casino operator before its shutdown 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 was 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.
