The U.S. is facing a surge of Chinese migrants at its borders, especially the southern border with Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that in the first half of Fiscal Year 2023, which started on October 1, 2022, agents captured 6,558 Chinese migrants who tried to enter the country illegally.
That number is almost equal to the total number of Chinese migrants apprehended in the previous six years combined (6,772 Chinese migrants), according to official Border Patrol reports. It also represents a massive 700% increase compared with the same period in the previous year, when only 229 Chinese migrants were caught at the southern border.
What are the reasons behind this influx of Chinese migrants? Pro-migration sources cite economic difficulties, political repression, poverty, corruption and environmental problems, but a growing concern is that some of the illegal migrants crossing the southern border may be spies and potential saboteurs. According to a recent report by the Center for Immigration Studies, some Chinese illegals have ties to the Chinese Communist Party or the People’s Liberation Army and therefore pose a threat to US national security.
The report cites several examples of Chinese nationals who were arrested or convicted of espionage-related activities in the US, such as Ji Chaoqun, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2019 for acting as an agent of China and collecting information on US defense contractors. The report also mentions Chen Song, who was indicted in 2020 for lying about her military affiliation and stealing medical research from Stanford University. The report argues that these cases show that China is using various methods to spy on the US, and that illegal migration is one of them.
How do Chinese migrants reach the U.S. border? The journey is lengthy, perilous and costly. Many Chinese migrants use social media platforms and apps to find information and guidance on how to travel across multiple countries and modes of transport. Some pay smugglers or brokers tens of thousands of dollars for access to vital information and assistance along the way. Some also face abuse, exploitation and violence from criminal groups or corrupt officials during their transit.
A reporter who filmed hundreds of military-aged Chinese men heading toward the U.S. border in Panama said he heard that some of them paid $35,000 each for information and help from smugglers or brokers. He also said that some of them did not want their faces on camera and were either foreign actors with nefarious motives or people who were afraid of the CCP’s retribution.
What happens to Chinese migrants once they arrive at the U.S. border? Depending on their circumstances, they may be processed for expedited removal, detained in custody, released into the U.S. with a notice to appear for an immigration hearing, or granted asylum if they can prove a credible fear of persecution if returned to China. The fate of these migrants is uncertain and often depends on the changing policies and priorities of the U.S. government.
Overall, the rise of Chinese migrants at the U.S. border poses security concerns for the U.S., especially amid rising tensions and competition with China on various fronts.
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