United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Imperial Pacific International (IPI) majority shareholder Lijie Cui for alleged immigration violations.
According to Marianas Variety, Cui is being held at the Department of Corrections, however ICE has not yet released more information regarding the alleged immigration violations or how long its investigation has been ongoing.
The arrest comes as IPI’s bankruptcy case continues to play out, after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April of 2024, citing liabilities of more than $165.8 million.
In February 2025, Team King Investment (CNMI) LLC acquired IPI’s casino assets through a court-approved auction, with final approval granted in April 2025 after creditor objections were resolved.
In November of last year, attorneys for IPI and the Official Committee of General Unsecured Creditors filed a motion with the US Bankruptcy Court in the Northern Mariana Islands seeking approval of balloting procedures and disclosure statements.
These contain the liquidation plan, disclosure statements, ballots, and notice of the confirmation hearing.
If the plan is confirmed, it will establish a liquidating trust to wind down operations and distribute the company’s remaining assets.
Imperial Pacific operated its Saipan casino from 2016 until March 2020, when the pandemic forced its closure.
