U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Shucheng “Charlie” Yang, 32, a Chinese national and attorney with the Alaska Department of Law, on July 10 in Anchorage, according to an ICE spokesperson.
Yang’s case is listed as “pending,” according to online court records, with a hearing scheduled in October. The case was opened on Oct. 27, 2025.
An attorney familiar with immigration proceedings says it is likely that he applied for asylum in the United States.
Each year, people come to the United States seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear they will suffer persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
USCIS says asylum applications generally must be filed by noncitizens who are physically in the United States within one year of arriving.
If someone qualifies for asylum, they must remain in the U.S. while the case is pending, USCIS says.
In June 2025, Yang was admitted to the Alaska Bar Association and licensed to practice law in the state.
Asylum applicants may apply for work authorization while their case is adjudicated.
An ICE spokesperson said Yang violated the terms of his admission and is a “deportable alien.”
He is currently being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, pending immigration proceedings.
USA/China: State attorney arrested by immigration officials, held in detention center
