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ICE Arrests Palestinian, Yemeni Nationals Convicted of Murder, Arson Respectively

Charlie Kirk Staff

06/11/2025

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ICE Arrests Palestinian, Yemeni Nationals Convicted of Murder, Arson Respectively

Federal immigration officers and customs agents made multiple arrests in Detroit this week involving individuals with serious criminal or national security concerns, authorities said.

On June 10, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested two foreign nationals—Ahmad Fareez Thabateh, 49, a Palestinian national, and Kassim Saleh Wasil, 70, a Yemeni national—who are currently being held in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.

Both individuals had final orders of removal and significant criminal histories. Thabateh was previously convicted of arson in Pontiac, Michigan. Wasil’s record includes convictions for second-degree murder, assault, resisting or obstructing an officer, and cruelty to a dependent adult.

“A convicted murderer and an arsonist are just some of the many public safety threats and immigration violators that our officers work to take off the streets every day,” said Kevin Raycraft, acting Detroit Field Office Director. “I’m proud of their efforts to safeguard communities across Michigan and Ohio.”

In a separate incident in Detroit, a Chinese national was arrested Sunday after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Shanghai. Chengxuan Han now faces federal charges related to the alleged smuggling of biological materials and making false statements to federal authorities.

Court documents state that Han is accused of sending biological materials associated with roundworm research from Wuhan, China, to individuals affiliated with a laboratory at the University of Michigan.

The New York Post reports that federal agents allege Han shipped four separate packages in 2024 and 2025 addressed to lab personnel in Michigan.

During questioning, Han denied having sent packages to any lab employees and claimed the contents of the packages were plastic cups, not petri dishes containing biological specimens.

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Charlie Kirk is the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, a national student movement dedicated to empowering young people to promote the principles of free markets and limited government.

Charlie is also the host of “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, which regularly ranks among the top-10 news shows on Apple podcast news charts, and is the host of the nationally syndicated daily radio show on the Salem Radio Network live from 12 - 3 PM ET.
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