U. S. Revokes migrant student's visa, deports after caught spying at virginia navy bases

PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed a Chinese citizen from the United States last week after he was convicted of unlawfully using a drone to photograph U.S. naval installations in Virginia, federal authorities said.

Fengyun Shi was removed to China on May 7 following a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge in New Jersey. ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor designated Shi as a national security risk based on his conviction for unauthorized aerial surveillance of designated defense sites.

“The removal of Fengyun Shi reflects ICE’s steadfast dedication to protecting the American people and upholding national security,” said acting ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Brian McShane in a statement. “His unlawful actions posed a significant risk to sensitive military installations, and his removal ensures that he is no longer a threat to the nation.”

Shi entered the U.S. on Aug. 11, 2021, through San Francisco International Airport under an F-1 nonimmigrant student visa to attend the University of Minnesota as a graduate student in agricultural engineering. On Jan. 18, 2024, the FBI arrested Shi in San Francisco following an investigation that determined he had used a commercial drone to photograph naval bases near Norfolk, Virginia.

On Jan. 25, 2024, the Department of State revoked Shi’s visa, and his enrollment in the University of Minnesota’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program was terminated on Feb. 7, 2024. He was convicted on Oct. 2, 2024, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for use of an aircraft for the unlawful photographing of a designated defense installation. He received a six-month prison sentence and one year of supervised release.

ICE details immigration arrest and deportation process

Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia encountered Shi at the Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood in Pennsylvania and placed an immigration detainer on Nov. 13, 2024. Upon his release from custody on March 7, ERO agents arrested Shi and detained him at Clinton County Correctional Facility in McElhatten, Pennsylvania.

That same day, ICE charged Shi with removability under Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. On March 24, an immigration judge in Elizabeth, New Jersey, issued the final order for his removal.

ICE said the case is an example of its priority on national security enforcement actions.

Shore News Network Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.