Chinese Illegal Migrants: Senator Marshall Raises Alarm Over Spike at US-Mexico Border

Paresh Jadhav

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On a frigid winter day, hundreds of Chinese citizens waited patiently at the US-Mexico border in makeshift camps bundled in hoodies while watching for their turn to be processed by US border control agents.

Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas is one of several Republicans demanding accountability from the Biden Administration regarding illegal immigration issues. An obstetrician himself, Marshall is part of the GOP Doctors Caucus and actively engaged in health care and pro-life advocacy.

The Importance of Transparency

Transparency has become an expected standard of the international economy, and participants increasingly expect it as part of market transactions. Market participants recognize its benefits; it builds trust between market players and economic cooperation partners and contributes to global peace and stability. The United Nations defines transparency as “systematic provision of information through informal or formal agreements”. This approach to transparency offers great promise.

Parallel to China’s economic development strategy of increasing market integration, its information management practices – including migration – have undergone transformation as part of this globalisation drive.

Although Chinese government continues to emphasize that migration is beneficial for its socioeconomic development and migrants must fully adhere to China’s law while living, working or studying in its territory, this viewpoint echoes in immigration policy as well as being one of the reasons behind delayed reforms due to opaque asylum and parole law; possibly fuelling recent increases in border encounters.

The Role of Chinese Migrants in Human Trafficking

Law enforcement officials believe a growing group of Chinese nationals have been illegally crossing into southwestern US through illegal crossings, partly as a result of China’s COVID-19 lockdown policies restricting travel abroad for Chinese nationals and an increasing desire among the upper-middle class in China to migrate (Center for China and Globalization).

While some families may migrate for economic reasons, others may be attracted by promises of better lives abroad, especially America or other destination countries. Young women and girls in particular often take notice of promises made by international marriage brokers that provide much higher quality lives than possible in their origin communities. This migration pattern speaks volumes about changing social dynamics within Chinese immigrant communities abroad: no longer do shared places of origin or ethnic affinities serve as bonds; therefore the US should take measures to combat such trends.

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The Role of Chinese Migrants in Fentanyl Poisoning

As US deaths related to fentanyl poisoning increase exponentially, lawmakers are increasingly holding China responsible. Most recently, the Justice Department unsealed indictments against Chinese chemical companies and individuals involved with production and distribution as well as Treasury’s designation of 28 individuals and entities involved with its production and distribution as evidence.

Chinese companies are facing indictments and sanctions for providing precursor chemicals that drug cartels use to produce deadly drugs like Fentanyl. Smuggled into America through illegal channels, these chemicals have contributed to an unprecedented spike in drug overdose deaths.

China claims it is cooperating with the United States in efforts to curb fentanyl production, but lawmakers like Gallagher are asking President Donald Trump and his administration to take further measures. They want Mayorkas to detail any steps being taken by his administration against Beijing so as to force export regulations for chemical precursors and cut funding for this trade – in addition to whether they’re pressuring Mexican officials for assistance from Washington.

The Role of Chinese Migrants in Asylum

Some members of Congress are raising concerns over the rise of Chinese migrants at our border, yet it should be remembered that most are seeking asylum from extreme injustice in their home countries and are seeking greater safety and autonomy in America. Their presence highlights the necessity of collaborative efforts to address global issues like political instability, economic disparities and human rights violations.

The causes behind Chinese migration to the US are complex, but include an increasingly unfree climate and economic outlook within China, along with limited legal pathways for immigration. All of this leads more Chinese nationals to seek sanctuary here in America.

On a recent winter day outside San Diego, dozens of Chinese nationals waited in makeshift encampments clad with hoodies and jackets as they waited to be picked up by US border control agents.


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