US Deports 116 Chinese Migrants

Above: November 11, 2023: Chinese Migrants attempting to cross in to the U.S. from Mexico are detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Image copyright: Nick Ut/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deported 116 Chinese nationals over the weekend who had entered the US illegally through the southern border. While China has typically rejected repatriated nationals, Beijing accepted this group.

  • The DHS said this was the largest deportation flight it had conducted since 2018, adding that it was part of an effort to combat "irregular migration and to disrupt illicit human smuggling." It did not state further details about the 116 individuals.


The Spin

Democratic narrative

This deportation is not only part of the Biden administration's effort to deter unlawful immigration but a prime example of the cooperative nature through which the White House works with its foreign counterparts. Between deportations and border closures, illegal entries have dropped by 40% since June 4, which helps both the US and the countries from which these migrants are coming. The US president is spearheading this global initiative.

Republican narrative

Deporting 116 Chinese illegals is a mere drop in the bucket given there are 50K, mostly single adult men, inside the US right now. After Trump kept monthly illegal Chinese migrant crossings in the single digits, Biden took office and purposely allowed thousands to enter. Releasing unvetted Chinese nationals into the US is one of the clearest threats to national security, but Biden is slow to take action.


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