A suspected illegal alien was arrested after authorities say he set up a meth lab inside a Michigan State University building, prompting a DHS hold and a multiagency response that closed the dorm while investigators assess the damage.
Xin Tong was arrested in connection with an alleged methamphetamine laboratory on the MSU campus. 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, and he does not appear to be a student at the university.
Wells Hall was closed on April 27 after reports of property damage and unknown chemicals prompted a safety sweep. The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety said officers made contact with a suspect inside Wells Hall on Sunday, April 26, 2026. That contact led to the arrest and the investigation that followed.
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. Those items, while available commercially, can be combined to create volatile and dangerous conditions when used to manufacture methamphetamine.
The Department of Homeland Security placed a hold on Tong on April 28, according to Ingham County court records. The DHS hold signals federal immigration interest while local prosecutors pursue criminal charges.
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. Those charges carry serious penalties and reflect both property damage and the public safety risk posed by an active lab.
Wells Hall will remain closed through Friday, May 1, as officials continue to evaluate the building to ensure it is safe for occupancy. Campus officials said the closure is a precaution while environmental health and safety teams complete air and surface testing. Students and staff have been advised to avoid the area until officials clear the building.
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. That kind of multiagency response is standard for hazardous scenes and complex investigations that cross local and federal lines. Coordination between departments helps ensure evidence is preserved and occupants are protected.
This incident raises clear questions about border enforcement and campus security from a law-and-order perspective. When a suspected illegal alien is accused of creating a dangerous drug lab on a college campus, Republican priorities point toward tougher enforcement of immigration laws and swifter deportation where appropriate, paired with robust campus safety measures to protect students.
Officials on both the law enforcement and university sides say the investigation is ongoing and additional details will be released as charges proceed through the courts. For now, the focus remains on public safety, the legal process, and ensuring the building is safe before anyone returns to Wells Hall.
