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The Biden administration has intensified its efforts to deport Chinese nationals, successfully repatriating over 500 individuals in the past year and laying the foundation for a more systematic approach to deportations across the Pacific.
On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its fifth large-scale deportation flight to China since restarting such operations in June, marking a significant step in the ongoing collaboration between the two nations on unauthorized migration.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “The Chinese nationals removed this week to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) add to the hundreds who have been removed for not having a legal basis to remain in the U.S. This is the fourth such removal flight that we have arranged with officials from the PRC.”
These coordinated efforts underscore the complexities of bilateral relations, where shared interests in addressing irregular migration often clash with broader geopolitical tensions.
Over the years, cooperation on deportations has proven challenging due to fluctuating tensions between the U.S. and China on issues like trade and Taiwan. Despite these hurdles, both nations recognize the mutual benefits of reducing unauthorized migration.
For the U.S., expediting deportations addresses domestic political pressure surrounding border security. For China, limiting emigration helps preserve its workforce and global image as an economic powerhouse. However, disagreements over procedures have often hindered progress.
In 2020, the U.S. classified China among 13 “recalcitrant countries” that resisted repatriating their nationals promptly. While the U.S. typically uses visa restrictions to pressure such nations, these measures are less effective against China.
Despite comprising a small fraction of overall unauthorized migrants, encounters with Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border have surged dramatically. From just 2,176 encounters in fiscal 2022, the number rose to 24,314 in fiscal 2023 and further jumped to 38,246 in fiscal 2024.
These rising numbers have drawn criticism from lawmakers like Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who demanded explanations from Secretary Mayorkas regarding the growing influx and the previously low rate of removals.
According to DHS officials, bureaucratic hurdles, particularly in obtaining travel documents for deportees, were significant obstacles. Similar challenges were faced during the Obama administration under then-Secretary Jeh Johnson.
Under Mayorkas’s leadership, DHS has worked with Chinese authorities to streamline the issuance of travel documents, facilitating more efficient deportations. These efforts have included the establishment of standard operating procedures for both chartered and commercial deportation flights.
The impact of these measures is evident in the sharp decline in border encounters with Chinese nationals, dropping from a peak of 5,980 in December 2023 to just 895 in November 2024.
Mayorkas credited these deportations as part of a broader strategy to reduce unauthorized migration, stating, “It is one element of our multi-pronged approach to border security, which has delivered border crossing levels that are lower than they were in 2019.
Our approach includes tough consequences for illegal border crossing, extensive engagement with foreign countries, and the development of safe and lawful pathways for humanitarian relief.”
The timing of these achievements is notable as President-elect Trump prepares to assume office, signaling a renewed focus on stringent immigration policies. Additionally, legislative measures such as the proposed Laken Riley Act could further complicate international cooperation.
If enacted, this law would allow states to sue the federal government to halt visa issuance to countries that fail to comply with deportation requests, posing a more severe consequence than current visa sanctions.
While the collaboration between the U.S. and China has shown promise, immigration advocates argue that deportations are not the sole driver behind reduced migration. Witness at the Border advocate Tom Cartwright pointed out that border encounters have decreased across nationalities, regardless of deportation flight frequency.
For example, encounters with Chinese nationals dropped by 76% between October-November 2023 and the same period in 2024, but similar declines were observed for other nationalities with varying levels of deportation flights.
Cartwright noted that broader factors likely contribute to the decline, including global migration trends and domestic policies. For instance, encounters with Guatemalan nationals fell by 73%, Nicaraguan encounters dropped 90%, and Honduran encounters declined 79% during the same timeframe, despite differing deportation flight numbers.
As the Biden administration continues to emphasize systematic deportations, the broader impact of these efforts on migration trends remains under scrutiny.
Whether these measures will sustain their effectiveness or face renewed challenges under the incoming administration remains to be seen.
