Troubling spike in Chinese migrants illegally crossing US-Mexico border ‘yearning for freedom’ with 24k last year alone

Share and Follow

CHINESE immigrants have been crossing the US-Mexico border at higher rates than in previous years.

Last year, it was revealed that there were over 24,000 Chinese migrant encounters, who were making dangerous trips to get across the border.

Chinese immigration has peaked in SeptemberCredit: Getty

Migrants reportedly are paying up to $35,000 to get the help they need to get to AmericaCredit: Getty

The spike in Chinese immigrants has made the group the fastest-growing demographic to cross into the United States from the southern border.

Zhang Kiayu, a Chinese migrant who came to America in the spring of 2023, told News Nation that he made the treacherous decision because he was “yearning for American freedom.”

He revealed that, like many other migrants, he flew to Ecuador because there was no visa requirement. From there, he traveled north to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sources told the publication that some people are choosing to fly into Tijuana Airport, where they meet others who would help them get to the border.

Migrants reportedly are paying up to $35,000 to get the help they need to get to America.

There has also been a wave of video platforms that have provided step-by-step guides for migrants on what to pack, where to find guides, how to survive the jungles, and what to do when encountering U.S. Immigration officers, The Associated Press revealed.

Chinese people have also been utilizing translation apps to navigate the new country on their own even if they don’t speak Spanish or English.

In September, arrests of Chinese people peaked at 4,010, which was a 70% increase from the month before.

Why are Chinese immigrants the fastest growing group at the southern boarder?

Chinese immigrants have been coming to the U.S at a large numbers for a multitude of reasons.

Since the Pandemic, Chinese citizens have had health with strict COVID-19-related policies including tight border control and harsh lockdowns

The economy has been struggling, according to the Associated Press, leaving youth unemployment at an all-time high. “They’ve lost hope for the future of the country,” said Cai Xia, editor-in-chief of the online commentary site of Yibao. “You see among them the educated and the uneducated, white-collar workers, as well as small business owners, and those from well-off families.”

According to Tammy Lin, an immigration attorney and adjunct professor at the University of San Diego, it’s becoming much harder to get Visas. Processing times in U.S. embassies in China are taking so long,” said Lin. “Also, it’s getting harder for them to get tourist visas. Some of these folks used to come here as tourists and students before ultimately deciding, ‘I can’t return to my country,’ and seeking asylum “Now they can’t get into the U.S. that way, so they take these desperate measures to do the journey over from China, over to Mexico or South America and over to the U.S. border.”

In 2023, of the thousands that were able to travel from Mexico, 55% of Chinese asylum applications were granted, according to the Department of Justice.

Official Border Force cutters have been withdrawn from patrolling the English Channel for migrants

The number of Chinese migrants could increase based on incoming data.

Within the first four months of the 2024 fiscal year, CBP agents encountered more than 18,000 people.

This was a stark difference from the first four months of 2021, which was only 450 migrants.