The head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified China as one of the top three countries that are not doing enough to receive their illegal immigrants back. This comes at a time when the number of Chinese nationals entering the United States illegally has increased dramatically at the southern border. ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner mentioned that Bhutan and Cambodia are also among the countries that are challenging in terms of repatriating their nationals, but there has been some progress with China recently.
ICE is working with other DHS agencies and the State Department to address the issue of recalcitrant countries, but Lechleitner acknowledged that it is a complex issue, considering geopolitical factors. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently revealed that there has been one deportation flight to China after discussions with authorities in the communist country. The number of Chinese nationals caught illegally crossing between ports of entry in the first six months of fiscal year 2024 has already surpassed the total number seen in all of fiscal year 2023.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that Border Patrol apprehended 24,296 Chinese nationals in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to 24,125 in the entire fiscal year 2023. This is a significant increase from the 342 apprehensions in fiscal year 2021 and 1,987 in fiscal year 2022. Including encounters at ports of entry, there have been a total of 41,970 Chinese nationals encountered so far, compared to 52,700 in fiscal year 2023.
Officials and lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential ties of these Chinese migrants to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as well as the trafficking of fentanyl into the United States. In a recent incident, a Chinese illegal immigrant was detained in California after driving onto a Marine Corps base without authorization and refusing to leave. This further underscores the challenges and risks associated with the increasing number of Chinese nationals entering the country illegally.
The surge in Chinese nationals being apprehended at the southern border highlights the need for stronger efforts to address the issue of illegal immigration and repatriation with countries like China. The complexities of the situation, including geopolitical considerations and potential ties to foreign governments, add a layer of difficulty to an already challenging process. As the number of encounters continues to rise, it is crucial for agencies like ICE, CBP, and the State Department to work together to find solutions and ensure the safety and security of the United States.
