Man Applying for Green Card Detained by ICE After Decades in US
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You Chen Yang, a 56-year-old Chinese national who owned Hong Kong Restaurant in Perry, New York, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on July 14 during what his family believed was a routine immigration check-in, according to local station WHAM-TV.
Yang had been living in Wyoming County for three decades and was in the process of applying for a green card when he was arrested at the local immigration office.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump campaigned on mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, specifically targeting those with violent criminal records, and his administration ramped up immigration enforcement since his return to office in January. Recent polls, however, suggest some Americans are turning on Trump's immigration policy amid reports that individuals with no criminal records or nonviolent offenses are being targeted.
The administration said it deported around 100,000 illegal immigrants in the initial months of Trump's second term, and many individuals have been deported following the president invoking the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has been criticized and blocked by judges.
What To Know
According to ICE Buffalo, Yang was arrested "pursuant to a warrant of removal issued by an immigration judge in 2002." The agency stated that Yang "has had his due process and remained at large for over 20 years." Despite the outstanding warrant, Yang had maintained regular contact with immigration authorities through periodic check-ins and possessed a work authorization card.
Yang's daughter, Elizabeth Yang, explained to WHAM-TV that her father had recently received approval for the first step in his green card application process.
"He asked his lawyer, and his lawyer was like, 'Oh, it's OK because you should be fine,' because he just recently got approved for the first step in applying for his green card," she told the news station. "So, he just went in thinking it was going to be OK."
After stepping down from his restaurant nearly a year ago, he had been actively working toward obtaining permanent legal status. His attorney had reportedly assured the family that the routine check-in would proceed normally given his recent immigration progress.
The arrest occurred after Yang received a call on July 14 requesting his appearance at the immigration office. Elizabeth Yang described the family's shock, noting they expected a standard check-in similar to previous encounters with immigration officials.
What People Are Saying
ICE Buffalo Statement: "ICE Buffalo arrested Chinese national You Chen Yang July 14 pursuant to a warrant of removal issued by an immigration judge in 2002. This alien has had his due process and remained at large for over 20 years."
It continued: "Under President Trump and DHS Secretary Noem's leadership, ICE is focused on removing illegal aliens who pose a threat to the security of our communities as well as those who have a final order of removal. Yang is in custody pending execution of his removal from the U.S."
Yang's daughter Elizabeth Yang told WHAM-TV: "The immigration office asks him to come in, or they'll set up an interview on the phone and just make check in with him every once in a while. So, this time, we thought it was a normal routine check-in."
Federal agents detain a person exiting a court hearing at immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on August 06, 2025 in New York City.
Federal agents detain a person exiting a court hearing at immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on August 06, 2025 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
What Happens Next?
Yang remains in custody at the ICE detention center in Batavia, New York, pending execution of his removal from the United States.
His family has maintained phone contact, and some have visited him at the facility. They are currently working with an attorney to address the legal situation and explore potential resolution options.
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