Tipsheet

Chinese Scientist Deported After Smuggling Crop-Killing Fungus Into the US

Amy Curtis
Amy Curtis  |  December 04, 2025 9:15 AM

This past June, Chinese national Chengxuan Han, a doctoral student at the College of Life Science and Technology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, sent packages of biological material to the U.S. in 2024 and 2025. That same month, two other Chinese nationals — Yunqin Jian and Zunyong Liu — were charged with conspiracy for smuggling a fungus considered an "agroterrorism weapon" to the University of Michigan lab.

Now one of those Chinese nationals, Yunquin Jian, has been deported for her role in smuggling that "vomitoxin" into the U.S.

Here's more:

A Chinese researcher who smuggled a crop-killing fungus dubbed "vomitoxin" into the U.S. has been deported, officials announced Monday.

Yunqing Jian, 33, who once worked for the University of Michigan, pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to smuggle the biological pathogen into the States, reportedly to continue researching it, and then lying to the FBI about her actions. She was sentenced to time served — then booted.

FBI Director Dan Bongino confirmed Monday in a post on X that Jian has been kicked out of the country after her conviction.

Here's that post from Bongino:

"Yunqing Jian, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling a DANGEROUS biological pathogen into our country and then lying about it to FBI agents, and was DEPORTED," Bongino wrote. "The FBI will not stand by and allow our foreign adversaries to exploit our top-notch university facilities in furtherance of their agendas. Thank you @FBIDetroit and @CBPNorthAmerica."

This raises serious questions about the aims of Chinese nationals in the U.S. and the aims of such behaviors. Few believe Jian and others are simply bringing these biological pathogens into the country for "research."

A fungus that devastates crops? Yeah, that's not something for which she should've merely been deported.

That would make an example.

Yes, it will. And it'll be a massive problem if those pathogens "leak" — COVID was just six years ago, remember.

Even one is too many to miss.

There should be a blanket ban on Chinese nationals to protect America, for a variety of reasons including our crops and food supply.