Suspects in Military Base Bomb Plot Linked to Illegal Immigrant Parents
The Department of Homeland Security has disclosed that the individuals who fled to China after allegedly attempting to detonate a dangerous explosive at a prominent military installation are the children of two Chinese immigrants residing in the U.S. unlawfully.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended Qiu Qindou and Jia Zhangzheng, who were illegally living in the United States. Their detainment followed an aborted plan by their adult children, Ann Mary Jen and Allen Jen, to set off an improvised explosive device (IED) at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida in mid-March.
This Florida base is crucial as it houses U.S. Central Command, overseeing military operations in the Middle East, and the Special Operations Command, which manages all special operations forces in the Army.
The Department of Homeland Security noted that the accused were born in the U.S. after their parents entered the country illegally.
The agency contended that this case exemplifies why recognizing ‘birthright citizenship’ for the offspring of illegal immigrants not only breaches the Constitution but also poses risks to all Americans.
Birthright citizenship grants U.S. citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. The FBI reported that Allen Zhen, the individual accused of planting the IED at MacDill Air Force Base on March 10, currently resides in China. He faces charges for attempts to damage government property through fire or explosion, illegal manufacturing of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device, which could lead to a maximum sentence of 40 years.
Ann Mary Zhen was arrested by the FBI on March 17 upon returning from China, where she had fled with her brother. She has been charged as an accessory after the fact and for tampering with evidence, potentially facing up to 30 years in prison.
She is accused of concealing or damaging a 2010 Mercedes-Benz to hinder its use in legal proceedings. Prosecutors allege the siblings attempted to erase their actions by selling cars to CarMax. However, investigators found traces of explosives despite their cleaning efforts.
The day following Ann Mary Zhen’s arrest, her parents, Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng, were taken into ICE custody. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the parents had applied for asylum in the U.S. but were rejected in 1998, subsequently being ordered for deportation.
Efforts to reopen the case have been dismissed multiple times by the Office of Immigration Appeals, yet the couple remained illegally in the U.S. for nearly 30 years.
The department claims that this situation underscores “serious risks” present in U.S. law, which permits automatic citizenship for those born here, including children of illegal immigrants.
Following the parents’ arrest, Acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Lauren Biss asserted that granting automatic citizenship to U.S.-born children of illegal aliens presents significant national security risks.
“This case makes it clear that there are dangerous implications from illegal immigration and birthright citizenship for the U.S.,” Biss commented. She criticized the birthright citizenship policy as based on a flawed interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Supreme Court is reviewing the validity of an executive order by President Trump aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. This order was signed on his first day back in the Oval Office in 2025.
Recent oral arguments revealed skepticism from justices regarding the executive order, leaving many supporters feeling disheartened about its prospects.
Amy Swearer, a senior legal fellow, voiced her disappointment over the court’s inquiry, noting the challenges ahead for supporters of Trump’s birthright citizenship stance. Nevertheless, she mentioned that there might still be a narrow path to a possible victory.
