ICE detains controlling shareholder of bankrupt Saipan casino operator

By Bryan Manabat

Saipan--U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations on Tuesday arrested Imperial Pacific International’s controlling shareholder, Lijie Cui, for suspected immigration violations, according to government officials familiar with the case.

ERO agents took Cui, 68, into custody Tuesday morning and transported her to the Department of Corrections in Susupe for detention.

ICE has not released details on the basis for the arrest, but officials said the case appears to involve her immigration status.

As a foreign investor operating in a U.S. jurisdiction, Cui would have been required to maintain a valid E‑2C long‑term investor visa, which may have expired.

Cui, a Chinese national and Hong Kong resident, has long been identified in court filings as the controlling shareholder of Imperial Pacific International Holdings, the parent company of Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC.

Her son, Xiaobo Ji, also a Chinese national, oversaw much of the casino and hotel development in Garapan.

Cui effectively ran IPI’s Saipan casino operations for several years, including during the construction of the company’s unfinished Garapan resort. The casino shut down in 2020 after the Covid‑19 pandemic devastated tourism and the company’s finances.

Lijie Cui

IPI filed for bankruptcy in April 2024, reporting more than $165 million in liabilities. Last year, Team King Investment (CNMI) LLC acquired IPI’s casino assets for $12.95 million following a court‑approved auction. CNMI government filings in the bankruptcy case noted close ties between IPI and Team King's principals, raising questions about the two entities' relationship.

IPI once held the commonwealth’s exclusive casino license under Public Law 18‑56, which granted the company a monopoly on casino gaming on Saipan in exchange for annual payments, regulatory fees, and commitments to complete its integrated resort. After years of noncompliance, stalled construction, and mounting legal disputes, the Commonwealth Casino Commission suspended and later revoked IPI’s license.

The Apatang administration is now considering amendments to the casino law to end IPI’s exclusivity and allow multiple casino licenses, a move aimed at opening the market after years of litigation and financial collapse tied to the IPI project.

ICE has not issued a public statement regarding Cui’s arrest, and no information has been released on when she will appear before an immigration judge.

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