A petition calling for the release of Dian Zhao Lin from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention is gaining support in Mount Morris, where community members say the longtime restaurant owner has been part of the community for more than two decades.
Supporters are urging ICE and the Department of Homeland Security to release Lin while his immigration case proceeds through the legal system, according to the petition.
"For more than 20 years, Mr. Lin has called Mount Morris home," the petition states. "He has raised his family here, operated a successful business, contributed to our local economy, and been part of the community we all share."
The Lin family has operated Mun Yuen Chinese Restaurant in Mount Morris since 2005. The family did
not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What does DHS say about Lin’s immigration case?
The Department of Homeland Security said Lin was apprehended Tuesday during an enforcement operation in Mount Morris, Livingston County. The agency described him as a Chinese national who entered the United States illegally in 1998.
DHS said Lin was also known as Sin Zhao Ling. According to the agency, Lin entered the country illegally in 1998 and was released into the United States by the Clinton administration. An immigration judge ordered him removed in 1999, DHS said.
In July 2023, the Board of Immigration Appeals denied a motion to reopen his case, according to the agency.
DHS said Lin would remain in ICE custody pending removal.
“To be clear: work authorization or a pending application do not confer legal status in the United States,” the agency said.
Petition highlights Lin’s ties to Mount Morris
“Mr. Lin is not a stranger to Mount Morris. He is our neighbor,” the petition states.
Supporters say Lin’s family ties, history in the community and contributions as a local business owner should be considered as federal authorities review his case.
"After more than 20 years of calling Mount Morris home, Mr. Lin deserves the opportunity to be with his family and have his case heard fairly," the petition states.
Mount Morris mayor expresses support for Lin family
Mayor Kelly Bacon voiced support for the Lin family in a written statement and on her Facebook page.
“Mr. and Mrs. Lin operate a successful Chinese restaurant in our village that has been a cherished part of our local business community for many years,” Bacon said. She described the couple as hardworking, kind and generous neighbors who have raised their children in the community.
“As Mayor, I cannot overstate the positive impact they have had on the life and culture of our small village,” she said, adding that the village would offer support in helping reunite Lin with his family.
Hochul speaks with DHS secretary about detained New Yorkers
Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday evening that she had spoken with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin about Lin’s detention and the case of German Machado Guillen, a Venezuelan-born SUNY Brockport employee who was taken into ICE custody the previous week.
Hochul said Machado Guillen was accused of overstaying his authorized stay in the United States by nearly a decade.
“I want their families to know that I’m doing everything in my power to bring their loved ones home,” Hochul said in a social media post. “I’m encouraged by the Secretary’s willingness to engage, and I’ll continue pushing for their swift return.”
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY restaurant owner detained by ICE as petition calls for his release
