Federal Immigration Officials and Texas Law Enforcement in Conflict Over Researcher
Federal officials have ramped up efforts to deport foreigners from the United States, but in Texas, there’s a push to keep one particular Chinese researcher in the country. This researcher, Yunhai Li, is accused of stealing his own cancer research with plans to take it back to China.
Li began his role as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas’s Anderson Cancer Center in Houston in 2022. Allegedly, he was working on a vaccine aimed at preventing the spread of breast cancer, according to legal claims from his employer, KTLA.
“We were really concerned he might get deported or leave quickly, so we had to act,” a local district attorney mentioned.
Li entered the U.S. on a Research Exchange Scholars visa through the State Department. His work received funding from notable federal agencies like the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health. In fact, Li had signed agreements to adhere to confidentiality and data-sharing restrictions—which complicates matters further.
Reportedly, before his research concluded, Li uploaded around 90 GB of data to his personal Google Drive. When approached about this, he deleted the files but seemed to have also uploaded some to a Chinese server called Baidu.
Interestingly, Li continued receiving support from China’s National Natural Science Foundation and worked at Chongqing Medical College’s First Associated Hospital during his time in the U.S., without disclosing this to his employers at MD Anderson. This is a clear breach of the funding agreement he signed, which prohibits such conflicts.
On July 1st, he resigned from MD Anderson. Shortly after, he attempted to board a flight to China from Bush Airport.
While at the airport, federal agents inspected his device and discovered various stolen research materials, including data classified as trade secrets. Li reportedly did not deny the accusations, asserting that the data was a result of his efforts over three years and that he felt entitled to it.
Li faces state charges, with federal prosecutors also analyzing his case. The state charges include theft of occupational secrets and tampering with government records. If convicted of just the trade secret theft charge, he could be looking at up to ten years in prison and fines that may reach $10,000.
“There was definitely a chance he could’ve been deported or left the country, so we had to make sure he stayed,” the district attorney added, emphasizing the need to keep both him and the information within U.S. jurisdiction.
Li’s bail was set at $5,100, although he was required to surrender his passport upon release.
His legal team has not responded to requests for comments regarding the situation.
This isn’t an isolated incident; MD Anderson has a troubling history. Back in 2019, the hospital dismissed three Chinese employees amid similar allegations of attempting to steal sensitive data. It raises questions about the vetting process for foreign applicants, which MD Anderson has not addressed in detail.
While a State Department spokesperson didn’t elaborate on individual cases, they indicated that during the Trump administration, visa applicants would be scrutinized to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens.
“We’re committed to constantly improving our screening processes while facilitating lawful travel to the U.S.,” the spokesperson mentioned.
