East Central Reporter

Chris Miller, a representative for Illinois' 101st House District, has raised concerns about the entry of a toxic fungus into the United States. He attributed this to open border policies under former President Joe Biden's administration.

"Chinese nationals are accused of smuggling fungus into the Midwest with intentions of infecting farmland," said Chris G. Miller, State Representative for 101st District (R), according to Facebook. "Biden created this new threat with his open border policies... We are NOT friends with China, they hate us, yet Pritzker pays them with taxpayer funds to do business in Illinois- it's insane!"

NBC Chicago identified the individuals involved as Chinese nationals Yunqing Jian and Dr. Zunyong Liu. Jian, who is employed by the University of Michigan, is currently in custody in Detroit, while Liu remains a fugitive in China. The pair allegedly entered the U.S. in 2022 with plastic bags containing a toxic fungus that could pose a threat to American farmland. NBC Chicago also reported that Jian is affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party and that she and Liu are romantically involved.

Screenshot of State Representative Chris Miller's June 5 Facebook post | State Representative Chris Miller's Facebook page

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, the fungus in question is Fusarium graminearum, known to cause head blight in crops such as rice, wheat, and barley. In humans, it can lead to reproductive defects, vomiting, and liver damage. Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said: "The federal charges announced today against Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, both residents of the People’s Republic of China, signify a crucial advancement in our efforts to safeguard our communities and uphold national security." Gibson added that these individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university for smuggling biological pathogens.

Jian and Liu allegedly brought Fusarium graminearum into the United States through Detroit Metropolitan Airport with plans for Jian to use it in her research at the University of Michigan. ABC News reported that Jian received funding from China for her research endeavors. Plant pathology experts like Caitlyn Allen from the University of Wisconsin-Madison informed ABC News that Fusarium graminearum infections already exist within U.S. farmland and have been present for over a century; thus it is not considered a new or recently imported pathogen from China.

Miller was first elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives in 2019 and hails from Illinois. He operates as a third-generation cattle farmer and grain operator in Hindsboro and holds an associate degree in agriculture from Lake Land College along with a Bachelor of Science in Education.