This week, a 31-year-old suspected illegal alien was arrested after allegedly making a meth lab at Michigan State University.
Xin Tong was arraigned on April 29, 2026, just before 5:00 p.m. and is being held at the Ingham County Jail on a $500,000 cash or surety bond. He faces charges of trespassing and operating a meth lab. Tong doesn't appear to be a student at the university.
He had multiple substances that can be legally purchased in retail stores or online. The chemicals include sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and butane.
Wells Hall was closed on April 27 after reports of property damage and unknown chemicals, according to the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety.
DPPS identified a suspect connected to these incidents. MSU police officers made contact with that individual inside Wells Hall on Sunday, April 26, 2026. That individual had multiple substances that can be legally purchased in retail stores or online. The chemicals include sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and butane.
The Department of Homeland Security placed a hold on Tong on April 28, according to Ingham County court records.
A DHS spokesperson told Townhall in an email:
“On April 27, 2026, Michigan State University police arrested Xin Tong, a criminal from China, on charges of operating a meth lab and damage to property. This criminal most recently entered the U.S. on an F-1 visa, August 6, 2018, at the Detroit point of entry. His visa status was terminated, and ICE lodged a detainer with the Ingham County jail, where he is currently in custody.
“It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When you break our laws, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country.”
Mystery Chemical at Michigan State University Turns Out to Be Meth Lab – DHS Hold Raises Bigger Questions#msu #michigan #chemical #meth #china #immigration #illegalalien #dhshttps://t.co/TrkRP6wFK9
— Michigan News Source (@MINewsSource) April 30, 2026
Michigan State University Police announced Wednesday evening that a 31-year-old man was arrested for allegedly running a meth lab in Wells Hall.
— The State News (@thesnews) April 29, 2026
Campus police, in a press release, wrote that suspect Xin Tong was arrested and faces felony criminal charges for malicious…
A 31-year-old man is facing serious felony charges after police say he was operating a meth lab inside Wells Hall, causing significant damage inside the campus building. Investigators say multiple chemicals commonly used in meth production were found, leading to charges including…
— NewMediaAmerica (@NewMediaAmerica) April 30, 2026
A 31-year-old man is in jail tonight after police say he operated a meth lab inside a Michigan State University building.
— WXYZ Detroit (@wxyzdetroit) April 30, 2026
STORY: https://t.co/wUd1L16wPz pic.twitter.com/hJu2vKUAK4
A 31-year-old man is in jail tonight after police say he operated a meth lab inside a Michigan State University building.
— FOX 17 (@FOX17) April 30, 2026
Police arrested Xin Tong after officers found him inside Wells Hall on Sunday. https://t.co/Sgsxumi3pO pic.twitter.com/5oQWqIaCH0
DPPS developed probable cause to arrest the suspect. The case was presented to the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office today, and felony criminal charges were issued for malicious destruction of a building over $20,000 and felony controlled substance-operate/maintain lab involving methamphetamine.
Wells Hall will remain closed through Friday, May 1, as officials continue to evaluate the building to ensure it is safe for occupancy.
The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety was assisted by the East Lansing Fire Department, Michigan State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and MSU Environmental Health and Safety.
