Arrest leaves family seeking answers
Lin's daughter Yujin told 13WHAM that her parents were heading to work when ICE agents arrested her father on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. She is one of the family's six children.
"I was just like, why did it happen? Because he didn't do anything at all," his daughter Monica Lin told News10NBC.
Originally from China, Lin arrived in the United States in the late 1990s, according to Yujin. Her parents initially lived in New York City, then moved to Mount Morris in 2005 after learning that the restaurant was for sale. Lin has owned and operated Mun Yuen for more than 20 years.
ICE said an immigration judge ordered Lin removed from the country in 1999 and that he would remain detained pending removal. His family said he has spent six years trying to obtain a green card. Yujin attributed the difficulties to the Trump administration's strict approach to immigration enforcement and said the family is trying to navigate the situation.
The agency identified him as Sin Di Ling in its statement, rather than Dian Zhao Lin, the name provided by his family. News10NBC asked ICE to clarify the discrepancy.
Customers support the restaurant
Lin's wife has continued operating Mun Yuen herself since the arrest, and longtime customers have visited to support the family, 13WHAM reported. The family has also organized a petition seeking his release.
The family is concerned about the restaurant's future and its ability to handle daily service. Yujin asked customers to be patient with the reduced staffing. Her 16-year-old sister cannot take over their father's work at the wok, she said, noting his roughly 20 years of experience.
Mayor Kelly Bacon described the family's connections to local schools and village life. The Lin children have visited her home, joined her children in school activities and traveled with them on trips, she said. The restaurant is also a regular stop for residents.
Resident Lauren Berger told News10NBC that many people were angry to see the arrest of someone who is "such a cherished member of our community."
Detention in Batavia
Lin remained at the Batavia ICE facility on Wednesday evening, Oct. 21. Yujin told 13WHAM she visited her father there for 10 minutes that day and remained hopeful he would be released.
The Buffalo Service Processing Center in Batavia has 650 beds. In February 2026, WXXI News reported ICE data showing an average of 745 detainees during fiscal year 2026, which began Oct. 1, 2025. That put the average population nearly 100 above capacity. More than 80% of detainees had no criminal arrest or conviction, according to the data.
A separate Spectrum News 1 report said that, as of Oct. 2, 2026, the Trump administration was proceeding with a nearly $17 million expansion at the facility. The project would add a 100-bed structure using funding from the 2025 tax-and-spending law. DHS told Rep. Tim Kennedy that the facility then held 653 people, 28% of whom had a criminal background.
