By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
AN overstaying Chinese national, Jinzhu Shao, says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Saipan are withholding his passport, preventing him from voluntarily leaving the island.
The 41-year-old told Variety through an interpreter that he wishes to leave Saipan — but not for China. Instead, Shao said he wants to travel to Serbia.
Shao said he applied for the CBP Home Mobile App, a new initiative from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection designed to encourage voluntary self-deportation for non-criminal undocumented immigrants. The app offers benefits including a $1,000 exit bonus, free travel, fine forgiveness, and temporary protection from ICE detention.
“I just want my passport and to leave voluntarily,” Shao said.
According to Shao, he arrived on Saipan on Jan. 3, 2024, on a tourist visa but overstayed. He later applied for asylum online and was issued an Employment Authorization Document valid from May 12, 2025, to May 11, 2030. He also holds a valid CNMI driver’s license, issued Sept. 24, 2025 and set to expire Aug. 3, 2028.
On July 14, 2025, Shao received a DHS letter directing him to report to the ICE Saipan Enforcement and Removal Operations office on July 24 at 9 a.m. for immigration verification. Shao said he refused to appear, fearing arrest, detention, and forced removal to China.
“I wanted to leave the U.S.,” he said. “Give me back my passport, and all my problems would be solved.”
Variety coordinated with a local ICE agent to schedule Shao’s appearance at the Saipan office for Oct. 10 at 9 a.m., but he did not show up.
A source who requested anonymity told Variety that more than 30 Chinese nationals in the CNMI have applied for asylum and currently hold valid EADs.
