Surge in Chinese migrants headed to US-Mexico border a boon for smugglers

The crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border is worsening, with record-breaking numbers of migrant encounters. According to NewsNation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported 302,000 migrant encounters in December alone, surpassing the previous monthly high of nearly 270,000 in September.

The surge of migrants is not limited to individuals from Mexico and Latin American countries. According to CNN, 31,000 Chinese migrants were apprehended by immigration authorities in the first 11 months of 2023, marking an increase of 7,000 from a prior New York Times report.

In November, The New York Times found that 24,000 Chinese nationals were taken into custody at the border. Currently, China is on track to be the fastest growing group crossing the border, according to a CNN analysis of the latest law enforcement on border encounters.

This influx of Chinese migrants is unprecedented for the U.S.

The CBP notes that, on average, the United States saw 1,500 Chinese migrants per year. While the number of Chinese migrants is still significantly lower than Mexican and Latin American migrants, it represents a remarkable exodus from the world’s second-largest economy.

Migrants attribute their departure to COVID-19 lockdowns, restrictions and growing disillusionment with the Chinese government. Many arrive with minimal belongings, including a few changes of clothes, phones and any available funds. Some endure arduous journeys spanning thousands of miles, often through harsh winter conditions.

The New York Times reported that most migrants fly into Ecuador, where no visa is required for Chinese nationals.

For many migrants, their journey begins in Quito, Ecuador — a city in the Andean Foothills.

Quito has seen its fair share of Chinese migrants; in 2022, Ecuador had 13,000 Chinese migrants. In 2023, that number surged to 45,000 in the first 11 months of the year.

As the number of migrants has grown, so too has underground social media and businesses that cater to Chinese nationals. One service CNN uncovered helps organize the journey to the border by arranging rides from the airport and stays at Chinese-run hostels.

Some Chinese travelers pay smugglers to guide them through the jungle between Columbia and Panama, or, for tens of thousands of dollars more, they can skip the jungle.

The smuggler packages range in price. One is a basic “Do It Yourself” online tutorial for $3,000 to $5,000. Another package including booked flights, hotels and buses costs around $9,000 to $12,000, but will not get you to the U.S. border. The premium package costs upwards of $20,000 but bypasses the rainforest and bus rides, flying directly to the U.S. border.

One 28-year-old Chinese national, Zheng Shiqing, is making the difficult journey to the southern border for a second time. During his first attempt, he was robbed at gunpoint, stripped of his belongings and forced to go back to China. Now, he’s hoping this time will be different.

“I left China because I was not able to save any money. It was really difficult to support myself,” Zheng said. Zheng said some employers in China refuse to pay him, even after working.

Even if they say the Chinese economy is strong, it is all about the upper class. I wish I was never born. Living feels so exhausting.

Zheng Shiqing

“Even if they say the Chinese economy is strong, it is all about the upper class,” he told CNN. “I wish I was never born. Living feels so exhausting.”

Meanwhile, businesses are pulling out all the stops for Chinese visitors.

One hospital in Quito features a sign written in Chinese offering vaccinations for a journey through the jungle. One of the hostel owners, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of online backlash, told CNN that her meals cost $20. The owner said she estimates there are at least 100 other businesses like hers.

If Chinese migrants are fortunate enough to get to the border, they turn themselves in to authorities, hoping for asylum — a process in which most succeed.

According to Axios, Chinese migrants have a higher success rate in being granted asylum compared to other migrant groups.

A study by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University found that between 2012-2017, 80% of Chinese migrants were granted defensive asylum, compared to 21% of Salvadorans and 12% of Mexicans. Most Chinese nationals seek affirmative asylum, which is generally easier to win in a court hearing.

China accuses the U.S. of enticing its nationals through asylum policies, while the U.S. argues that China’s oppressive policies are forcing its citizens to leave. China typically does not allow citizens back once they seek asylum in the U.S.

According to Axios, 525 Chinese asylum-seekers were successfully deported in 2017, and only 398 were deported in 2016.

The New York Post suggests that watered-down policies for Chinese migrants might be a factor in allowing thousands of asylum-seekers from the eastern power into the U.S.

Documents obtained by the Daily Caller indicate that the CBP reduced the number of questions asked of Chinese migrants from about 40 to five in April 2023. The change in policy followed an increase in monthly border crossings by Chinese citizens in the first quarter of 2023. Security experts argue that the less comprehensive screenings could potentially allow “bad actors” from a U.S. adversary to enter the country.

The questions cut from the screening process included inquiries about prior arrests, entry into the U.S., and payments of smuggling fees to human traffickers. Documents revealed by the Daily Caller show that the basic questions now include military service, place of birth and political party.

Before the policy change, CBP officers spotted more than 3,500 Chinese migrants entering the U.S. illegally per month. Since the policy change in May 2023, officials have reported more than 5,400 per month.

However, national security experts contend that the surge is likely a correlation rather than a cause.

An expert interviewed by the New York Post attributes the mass exodus to factors such as China’s slowed economy and oppressive government.

Officials warn that due to worsening conditions in China, the flow of Chinese asylum-seekers is unlikely to slow anytime soon. U.S. officials attribute the persistently high numbers to strained relations and an unwillingness by the Chinese government to cooperate with the U.S.