Border Patrol agents have seen an increase in the number of Chinese nationals illegally crossing the border this year. Agents apprehended 33,409 Chinese immigrants trying to enter the country illegally from October to June; that’s already higher than the 27,756 apprehensions for all of fiscal year 2022.
Here’s a look at the statistics:
| Fiscal year | Chinese migrant encounters at southern border | Chinese migrant encounters at northern border | Chinese migrant encounters at all other areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 (October – June) | 14,789 | 7,590 | 11,030 |
| 2022 | 2,176 | 6,698 | 18,882 |
| Percent change | + 579.72% | + 13.30% | – 41.55% |
A recent Department of Homeland Security report indicates federal law enforcement is trying to determine why some Chinese immigrants are entering the United States by boat from the Bahamas.
The Daily Caller obtained a situation report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Joint Intelligence Operations Coordination Center in South Florida which states key intelligence questions and intel gaps.
That includes:
- Why are Chinese nationals opting to self-smuggle from Grand Bahama?
- Who are the facilitators coordinating movements between the Bahamas and Florida?
- What are the locations of interest within the Bahamas that are used as staging/launch locations for smugglers?
The situation report explained how the immigrants self-smuggled. In one case, a group of six purchased a boat in the Bahamas, tested it, left a yacht club and were arrested in Palm Beach.
Why is there an increase from China?
In part, it’s the economy. It’s very hard for young people and recent college graduates in China to get jobs right now. The unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds in urban areas was more than 21% in June.
The unemployment rate is only expected to get higher as another class of college students graduated in July.
Some young people are accepting positions well below their qualifications. There’s even a growing number of young people being paid to be full-time children. They help out around the house, food shop and take care of elderly family members for a monthly salary.
In addition to the lack of economic opportunities, some immigrants are fleeing China because any form of political dissidence in the country can bring harsh penalties including harassment and detainment.
