This New DHS Policy Will Shock You – Migrants Are Heading Back to China!

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently deported a significant number of undocumented Chinese migrants back to their home country. On November 16, 109 Chinese nationals were sent back on a chartered flight. This marks the third such flight in just six months, following similar removals in June and October, which saw over 100 and 130 Chinese nationals deported, respectively.

“DHS is enforcing U.S. immigration laws and delivering tough consequences for those who enter unlawfully or without authorization,” Homeland Security officials said in a statement. The statement continued, emphasizing that this removal flight exemplifies ongoing collaboration with China and other international partners to deter irregular migration through strict immigration enforcement.

The June deportation flight was a landmark event, being the first significant chartered removal of Chinese nationals since 2018. That flight, coordinated with China’s National Immigration Administration, returned 116 individuals who had been living in the U.S. illegally. It followed a proclamation from then-President Joe Biden to temporarily halt the entry of undocumented migrants at the southern border, a move that led to a reported 52% drop in Border Patrol encounters.

Since then, DHS has deported individuals from various countries, including Colombia, Peru, Egypt, and China. The U.S. has seen a record number of deportations in Fiscal Year 2024, with more people removed than in any year since 2010.

Pew Research Center reports that, in 2022, nearly 90,000 Chinese nationals entered the U.S., making China the third-largest source of immigrants, following Mexico and India.

However, the practice has sparked concerns among human rights organizations. Advocates worry about the safety of vulnerable groups such as Uyghurs, a Muslim minority from China. Carolyn Nash, the Asia Advocacy Director at Amnesty International USA, told Newsweek, “Amnesty is concerned with the resumption of deportation flights between the U.S. and China. CBP does not track ethnicity, leaving authorities no way to confirm whether the U.S. is returning Hongkongers, Uyghurs, or other vulnerable minorities.”

Nash further explained that more Chinese nationals are seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. However, the CBP One app, designed to help non-citizens submit information for entry, does not support Chinese languages. This language barrier forces many to cross into the U.S. illegally, often risking their lives. According to Amnesty, “Under current border policies, the only way for people to seek safety is to wait months for an appointment in the CBP One mobile application. This app is only available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, making it entirely inaccessible for Chinese nationals who speak none of those languages. As a result, they are forced to cross into the U.S. irregularly, with an extraordinarily high risk of danger, crossing through deserts or over border walls.”

The ongoing deportations and the difficulties facing Chinese migrants have brought immigration policies into the spotlight, raising questions about fairness, safety, and the impact on vulnerable populations. As deportations continue, the focus remains on how the U.S. government will address these concerns while enforcing its immigration laws.