News Summary
Liluyue Xu, a Texas A&M student from China, is entangled in legal issues including a federal firearms charge and an immigration hold. His arrest followed a traffic stop that led to the discovery of firearms. While Xu claims to have acquired the weapons legally, federal authorities dispute this, complicating his academic future. The case has brought to light concerns about the intersection of immigration law and gun ownership for international students.
College Station, Texas – Liluyue Xu, a Texas A&M University student and Chinese citizen, is facing a federal firearms charge alongside an immigration hold, complicating his academic future. These legal troubles come shortly after U.S. authorities reinstated student visas for him and over 1,000 other international students after a turbulent period regarding visa statuses due to various immigration policies.
Xu’s case has gained complexity owing to the involvement of his potential future father-in-law, an official within the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Initial concerns about Xu’s activities began in February when a DPS agent alerted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), suspecting Xu of illegal possession of firearms and the sale of steroids.
The situation escalated in April when College Station police pulled Xu over for a traffic stop. This stop led to his arrest for a misdemeanor charge of “possession of dangerous drugs.” It was during this traffic stop that police seized a bottle of Tadalafil (commonly known as Cialis), which Xu was unable to prove he had a prescription for.
Subsequent to the traffic stop, DPS officers obtained a search warrant for Xu’s home. The search yielded significant findings, including a semi-automatic rifle, a pistol, and 120 rounds of ammunition. Following this search, Xu was indicted on a charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Xu’s defense claims that he acquired the firearms legally. However, federal authorities contend that he does not possess a hunting license, which is necessary for individuals on an F-1 visa to own a firearm legally. Complicating matters further, Xu is currently unable to post bail due to an immigration hold associated with his case.
Xu has lived in the United States legally since the age of 7 and is pursuing a degree in kinesiology at Texas A&M University. He has garnered attention not only for his academic pursuits but also for his social media presence, where he documents his bodybuilding journey and business interests, including posts that show firearms and hunting activities. Federal authorities were alerted to his case following reports about his social media content, raising concerns regarding his eligibility to possess firearms.
The involvement of the DPS seems to hint at familial tensions, particularly regarding the potential future father-in-law of Xu. The timing of the call to the ATF coincided with the abrupt termination of Xu’s visa status, casting doubt on the motives behind the investigation. This sudden change in visa status jeopardized his academic standing but was later reinstated by the U.S. government amid legal pressure stemming from lawsuits aimed at safeguarding international students’ rights.
As for the results of the police search, they executed a warrant that led to the confiscation of over 80 items, including firearms and ammunition. If the federal case against Xu is dismissed, there is a possibility that his immigration hold could be lifted, as long as he maintains his status as a student. However, if convicted of the firearms charge, Xu could face serious repercussions, including immigration detention and potential implications on his ability to remain in the United States.
The ongoing case has sparked conversations surrounding the intersection of immigration law and gun ownership rights, especially for international students. As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications for Xu’s future, both academically and in terms of residency in the U.S., remain to be seen.
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Additional Resources
- Houston Chronicle
- Wikipedia: Texas A&M University
- KBTX
- Google Search: Texas A&M facility defense
- ABC13
- Google Scholar: guns federal custody
- Express News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Antonio movie theater shooting
- ABC13
- Google News: firearm charge police chase Houston
