The United States is engaged in high-level discussions with China to increase the number of Chinese nationals deported from the U.S., according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This potential agreement would be a significant development in U.S.-China relations and American immigration policy as China has been uncooperative in accepting deportations of its citizens. The number of Chinese migrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has increased drastically in recent years, leading to a need for cooperation between the two countries to address the issue. Mayorkas expressed hope that discussions with China will result in a positive change in the current situation regarding deportations.
Customs and Border Protection data shows a significant surge in the number of Chinese nationals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization, with over 24,000 crossings in Fiscal Year 2023 compared to just over 2,000 the previous year. This increase is part of a larger trend of migrants from various countries making the dangerous journey to the southern border of the U.S., leading to record-high illegal crossings. The recent meeting between Mayorkas and Wang Xiaohong in Vienna included discussions on a potential agreement on deportations. This dialogue is taking place amidst a broader improvement in relations between the U.S. and China.
The Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. stated that China cooperates with efforts to repatriate illegal immigrants and is willing to strengthen cooperation with relevant countries on the issue. China follows a principle of ‘verification first, then repatriation’ when dealing with the repatriation of illegal immigrants, including Chinese citizens. However, the U.S. has previously labeled China as a ‘recalcitrant’ or ‘non-cooperative’ country when it comes to deportations, citing Beijing’s refusal to cooperate in repatriating its citizens. This refusal has forced ICE to release many Chinese nationals, some with violent crime convictions, into American communities, posing public safety risks.
In response to then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China officially cut off cooperation on deportations in 2022, further hindering the process of returning Chinese nationals to their country. The U.S. resorts to expensive and logistically challenging charter flights, sometimes via South Korea, to deport individuals to China. While some deportations continue to occur each year, the number of Chinese nationals with final deportation orders living in the U.S. remains around 100,000, indicating a significant challenge in addressing the issue. An agreement allowing direct deportations to China would likely impact these numbers, but resource constraints and backlogged immigration courts present additional challenges.
Mayorkas emphasized that Congress needs to address the backlogs in the immigration system to effectively reduce migration flows from China and other countries. He highlighted a recent bipartisan Senate bill on immigration that could have addressed these challenges but was blocked by pro-Trump Republicans. Until comprehensive legislative reforms are implemented, the Department of Homeland Security will continue to face difficulties in managing migration flows effectively. The current immigration system is not equipped to handle the existing migration dynamics, further underscoring the need for policy changes to address the issue.
