When Buying a Home Is Treated as a National Security Threat

News Snapshot:

After years of living in dorms and subpar apartments, Lisa Li could not wait to close on her new home. The one-bedroom condo in Miami’s financial district had a view of the river, was in a safe neighborhood and, Ms. Li heard, had neighbors who were much like her — less party, more chill. So Ms. Li, a 28-year-old who came to the United States 11 years ago as a college student from China, put in an offer, had her bid accepted and began ordering furniture. Then things took a sharp turn. At the last minute, the title company raised...