Southern Border Sees Increased Apprehension Of Chinese Nationals

The number of Chinese nationals apprehended attempting to cross the southern border has increased significantly in the last year. According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) figures, during the 2023 fiscal year, more than 24,000 migrants from China attempted entry into the United States.

The increased flow of Chinese nationals is particularly larger than in the previous fiscal year. In FY 2022, fewer than 2,000 migrants from China were caught attempting to cross the border. This represents a more than 1,100% increase year-over-year. The increase is even more stark compared to fiscal year 2021, in which only 342 migrants from the People’s Republic were caught attempting to cross the border.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) figures place the total number of Chinese nationals caught at the border between 2007 and last fiscal year at fewer than 20,000.

In particular, the attempted crossings appear to be accelerating. The figure includes more than 11,000 Chinese nationals who attempted to cross since June.

Breitbart reported this week that more than 80% of Chinese nationals captured at the border were single adults. Most of these individuals were then released into the United States pending asylum claims. Earlier this year, the Biden administration ended the Title 42 asylum policy initiated under former President Donald Trump.

Following the announcement of the end of Title 42, the number of attempted crossings into the United States increased significantly.

The number of encounters between CBP officers and migrants increased to an all-time high of more than 260,000 last month.

Furthermore, the House Judiciary Committee reported that since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, there have been more than 1.7 million migrants who eluded border authorities. In addition, almost 2.5 million migrants were released into the United States after their border encounter with CBP officials.

The current wave of migrants entering the United States has corresponded with increased numbers heading to large cities, including New York and Chicago.