A former American University researcher who pleaded guilty in 2003 to selling sensitive technology to China will not be deported back to her homeland, U.S. Immigration officials said.

U.S. Immigration Judge Paul Schmidt ordered a “relief from removal” order March 20 for Gao Zhan, 44, who admitted selling more than $500,000 worth of military-grade microprocessors to the Chinese government between October 2000 and January 2001, according to U.S. Immigration spokeswoman Susan Eastwood.