A shocking case of illegal alien church arson. Chinese national convicted of setting fire to a historic church in Montgomery, Alabama, is now facing additional federal charges after allegedly escaping from prison late last year. Xiaoquin Yan, 31, had been serving a sentence for arson at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, when she reportedly fled the facility on December 10, 2024.
Yan was sentenced in March 2023 to 102 months in federal prison for intentionally setting four fires inside the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Montgomery on September 30, 2021. The church, founded in 1829, is one of Alabama’s oldest, with its current sanctuary standing since 1916. The fire caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to the building.
According to court records, Yan had scoped out the church over several months before the attack and reportedly made derogatory remarks about the pastors, referring to them as “rich white men.” Her targeting of a historic Christian house of worship raised concerns about motive and bias, though her prosecution focused on the destruction of property.
Yan originally entered the United States on an F-1 student visa but remained after it expired, making her an illegal alien at the time of the arson. After her conviction and imprisonment, a federal grand jury indicted her this month for her escape from prison. Federal agents reportedly apprehended Yan later the same day she fled.
If convicted on the escape charge, Yan could face an additional five years in federal prison.
The case has renewed attention on the need for stronger immigration enforcement and prison security, particularly concerning criminal non-citizens with a history of targeting religious institutions.
Faith leaders in Alabama have since increased security at several churches, especially those with historical significance. The attack and subsequent prison escape have fueled renewed calls for tougher immigration laws and closer vetting of foreign nationals entering the U.S. on student visas.
