DHS Ties MacDill IED Plot Suspect to Chinese Parents With Long‑Ignored Deportation Orders and Uses Case to Attack Birthright Citizenship
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The Department of Homeland Security tied the parents of the alleged MacDill Air Force Base IED suspect—Chinese nationals Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng, whose asylum was denied and who have had final removal orders since 1998—to long‑ignored deportation orders and used the case to argue that “improper recognition of birthright citizenship” is inconsistent with the Constitution and endangers Americans. Federal authorities say their son, Alen Zheng, charged with attempted damage to government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device (exposure up to 40 years), allegedly planted an IED at MacDill on March 10 and is believed to be in China, while sister Ann Mary Zheng faces accessory and tampering charges (up to 30 years) after investigators found trace explosive residue in a 2010 Mercedes‑Benz the siblings tried to dispose of through CarMax.