Number of Chinese nationals coming to US illegally drops 97% under Trump

Recent data shows a significant reduction in the number of Chinese nationals unlawfully entering the United States through the southern border since President Trump assumed office in January. In the first full three months of the Trump administration, Border Patrol agents apprehended only 225 Chinese nationals, compared to over 8,800 Chinese nationals who were captured in the same period under the Biden administration the previous year.

Per Fox News' Bill Melugin, this marks a 97 percent drop in unlawful entries.

More than 60,000 Chinese nationals unlawfully entered the US during the Biden administration's four years, with a peak of 38,200 encounters in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 alone. This marked a 5,200 percent increase from 450 encounters in FY 2021, according to data. A large majority of these encounters resulted in Chinese nationals being released into the US.

Chinese migrants often flew to Ecuador, traveled through the Darien Gap, and then made their way to the US-Mexico border, guided by smugglers, the AP reported. The majority of Chinese nationals were single, military-aged men, sparking espionage concerns and totaling more than 176 US Army battalions. 

The Biden administration's policies, including the termination of the "Remain in Mexico" program and reduced vetting questions for Chinese nationals (from 40 to 5), facilitated rapid processing and release into the US interior, according to a previous report from Congressional Republicans.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently apprehended several Chinese nationals unlawfully present in the US as part of the Trump administration's mass deportation operations. In May, a Chinese national was removed after being convicted of photographing US military installations. In March, ICE apprehended a Chinese national convicted of operating on behalf of a foreign government. Additionally, four Chinese nationals were sentenced to federal prison in March for participating in a complex identity theft scheme, and another Chinese national charged with sex trafficking was taken into custody. The list goes on and on.