ICE Arrests Mount Morris, NY Restaurant Owner Dian Zhao Lin on a 1999 Removal Order; Community and Governor Press for His Release

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ICE arrested Dian Zhao Lin, who has owned and operated the Mun Yuen Chinese restaurant in Mount Morris, New York for more than 20 years, on October 20, 2026. ICE says an immigration judge ordered him removed on November 29, 1999 and that the Board of Immigration Appeals denied his motion to reopen on July 26, 2023. His family says he has been working to get his green card for six years. He is held at the Batavia federal detention facility.

The community responded with a “Free Mr. Lin” protest on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 and a Change.com petition with more than 7,000 signatures. Gov. Kathy Hochul said she spoke with Secretary Mullin about his arrest and that of German Machado.

Sources & Citations

[1] Livingston County community backs restaurant owner after ICE arrest in Mount Morris — News10NBC (WHEC) · Oct 21, 2026 Tier 2

[2] Petition for release of Mount Morris restaurant owner held by ICE tops 7,000 signatures — 13WHAM · Oct 27, 2026 Tier 2

[3] 'Free Mr. Lin': Mount Morris Community Rallies After ICE Arrests Beloved Local Restaurant Owner — Eyes on ICE · Oct 25, 2026 Tier 3

Tiers Tier 1 court records & gov docs · Tier 2 established outlets · Tier 3 regional & specialty press · Tier 4 opinion or single-source. Methodology →

Cite this entry

The Cascade Ledger. “ICE Arrests Mount Morris, NY Restaurant Owner Dian Zhao Lin on a 1999 Removal Order; Community and Governor Press for His Release.” The Capture Cascade Timeline, October 20, 2026. https://capturecascade.org/event/2026-10-20--ice-arrests-dian-zhao-lin-mount-morris-restaurant-owner-removal-order-1999/