Homeland Security Deports Chinese Illegal Immigrants On Charter Flight

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday that it had deported a group of Chinese illegal immigrants on Oct. 15, marking the second removal flight to China this year.

Details of the Deportation

The DHS confirmed that 131 Chinese migrants were removed on a chartered flight on that date. The department described an initial flight in June as the largest removal flight since 2018, although it did not specify the number of people deported on that flight.

DHS Statement

In a statement released on Oct. 17, the DHS said that the latest removal flight demonstrates its commitment to “pursuing sustained cooperation” with China and other countries over illegal immigrants. However, the DHS did not disclose how long the illegal immigrants had been staying in the United States before their deportation. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned intending migrants not to believe the lies of smugglers, stating that "Chinese nationals without a legal basis to remain in the United States are subject to swift removal." He further emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security will continue to enforce the nation’s laws and strengthen consequences for individuals unlawfully entering the country.

Illegal Immigration and the 2024 Presidential Race

Illegal immigration has emerged as a key issue in the 2024 presidential race. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, more than 73,700 apprehensions of Chinese nationals nationwide have been recorded since October 2023, with half of them occurring at the southern border.

Resumption of Cooperation between the US and China

The United States and China resumed cooperation on the deportation of Chinese nationals in May, nearly two years after China suspended the agreement following a visit to Taiwan by the then-House Speaker. In a statement to media outlets, the Chinese Embassy in Washington expressed openness to working with the United States on the repatriation of illegal immigrants, provided that Washington pays "reciprocal attention to China’s concerns" and creates "a proper atmosphere for cooperation."

Concerns Over Illegal Immigration

Republicans on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability held a hearing on May 16 to express concerns over the “unprecedented flow of Chinese nationals” illegally crossing the U.S. southern border. The federal government eased the vetting process last year, with Border Patrol agents reducing the number of vetting questions for Chinese nationals from 40 to only five questions.

Democrats' Response

Democrats on the House Homeland Security subcommittee dismissed these concerns, characterizing them as “another Republican border ‘hearing’ with invasion rhetoric and fear-mongering.” Experts invited to testify suggested that the vetting process was unlikely to find any criminal background information on Chinese nationals who have never been in the United States because China does not readily share that information with U.S. authorities.

Expert Testimony

Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow with The Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, told the committee that “it is statistically probable that DHS is releasing people with criminal records.”

Bottom Line

This recent deportation of Chinese illegal immigrants by the DHS underscores the ongoing concern about illegal immigration in the United States. It also highlights the complexities of international cooperation and the challenges of securing national borders. What are your thoughts on this issue? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.