Chinese man sentenced in the US for smuggling 12 people from Saipan to Guam.

A boat carrying Chinese illegal immigrants ran out of fuel on the way to Guam and was ultimately rescued by the United States Coast Guard. The captain of the boat, a 36-year-old Chinese man named Zhongli Pang, has been sentenced by a U.S. court. This case highlights the potential risks and loopholes in the management of the U.S. Pacific border.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Tuesday (April 1st) that Zhongli Pang, a 36-year-old Chinese citizen, conspired with several others in June 2024 to exploit a little-known policy loophole to transport 12 undocumented Chinese individuals from Saipan in the U.S. Northern Mariana Islands to Guam, approximately 100 nautical miles away.

Zhongli Pang has pleaded guilty to charges of “conspiracy to transport illegal aliens” and “conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government.” He has been sentenced to three months in federal prison with credit for time served. The court also imposed one year of supervised release, 50 hours of community service, and a $200 special assessment fee on him.

During the sentencing hearing, Zhongli Pang admitted that his actions endangered multiple lives and expressed deep remorse.

Prosecutors pointed out that Zhongli Pang attempted to exploit a loophole that allows Chinese tourists to enter the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) without a visa and then travel by boat from that territory to Guam, where a visa is required for entry.

In June 2024, Zhongli Pang and his co-conspirators purchased a boat for $33,000, registered by Zhongli Pang himself, and attempted to unlawfully transport 12 undocumented Chinese immigrants from Saipan to Guam.

However, Zhongli Pang had very limited sailing experience, with only two short test runs before the failed attempt due to overloading and insufficient fuel, requiring rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Federal prosecutor Shawn N. Anderson emphasized in a statement, “We will continue to target and combat the illegal flow of foreign nationals between the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.”

“Such actions not only pose a high risk to human life but also result in criminal penalties and immigration consequences for those involved. We urge Chinese citizens to comply with the parole system in the Northern Mariana Islands and return to China as promised upon entry,” Anderson said.

Lucy Cabral-DeArmas, a special agent with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in the Pacific region, added, “This case demonstrates the concrete results of HSI’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal migration and cross-border crimes. Through collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, we will continue to hold violators accountable and ensure community safety.”

This case illustrates the increasing focus of the U.S. on individuals from China exploiting policy loopholes to illegally enter the U.S. through the Northern Mariana Islands.

Due to their proximity to Asia, both the Mariana Islands and Guam are seen as entry points into the U.S. by criminal elements. In 2023, HSI announced the formation of the Mariana Islands Border Enforcement Security Task Force to combat potential threats entering the U.S. through this area.

Guam is a crucial U.S. military outpost in the Western Pacific, hosting naval and air force bases and serving as a key forward deployment platform in the Indo-Pacific strategy. Its strategic location near Asia holds significance for mainland China, the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and other regions. In recent years, Guam has been considered a vital stronghold in countering Communist threats, bringing increased attention to its border security and illegal entry issues.