Romulus, MI–U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport denied the entry of a Chinese research scholar, traveling on an exchange visitor visa. Officers questioning, determined the visitor was not admissible to the United States due to engaging in deceptive business practices.
The event took place on November 14, when CBP officers questioned a 29-year-old female traveler about her purpose to enter the United States. During her questioning, it was revealed that she planned to use her visit as a research scholar to probe U.S. companies for data regarding sensitive technologies. The traveler then admitted that she planned to take the data back to China to implement those proprietary processes there.
“Intellectual property theft is a CBP trade priority,” said Acting Port Director Robert Larkin. “CBP Officers are on the frontlines to prevent the theft of intellectual property rights and I commend the officers for their diligent work to reveal this traveler’s true intention.”
Upon discovering that her stated intent went far beyond the scope of activities allowed by her visa classification, CBP Officers allowed her to withdraw her application for admission and she was returned to China.
