GlobalWide News
The New York Times: In the past year, over 24,000 Chinese citizens were apprehended crossing into the United States from Mexico, a number exceeding the total for the previous decade. These migrants typically fly to Ecuador, visa-free, then traverse dangerous terrains, including the jungle between Colombia and Panama, to reach the U.S. where they often seek asylum. Chinese citizens have a higher asylum success rate compared to other nationalities, and those who are denied asylum often remain in the U.S. due to China’s reluctance to repatriate them.
This migration surge is attributed to dissatisfaction with China’s stringent COVID-19 policies and the authoritarian government under Xi Jinping. Many migrants are middle-class adults who eventually head to New York, specifically Flushing, Queens, known for its established Chinese community. Historically, Chinese asylum seekers arrived in the U.S. on a visa, but the current trend sees them undertaking perilous journeys through South America.
The influx of Chinese migrants, while significant, forms only a small part of the broader issue of increasing migration across the U.S. southern border. The U.S. faces challenges in deporting those ordered removed, particularly from countries like China, which are uncooperative in accepting repatriated citizens. This situation raises concerns for both the U.S., struggling with immigration system pressures, and China, which is witnessing an exodus of its working-age population amid a shrinking population and slowing economic growth.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/24/us/politics/china-migrants-us-border.html
