A group of migrants were deported to China in a large charter flight over the weekend, marking an abrupt change in policy for Beijing. The Department of Homeland Security refused to disclose the number of migrants on the flight, but the Associated Press reported that 116 were on board. This announcement comes amid increasing efforts by the White House to enforce immigration laws ahead of the presidential election in November.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the U.S. will continue to remove individuals without legal basis to remain in the country, urging people not to believe the lies of smugglers. Discussions with Chinese leaders had been ongoing for months to increase the number of Chinese nationals deported from the U.S.
The rise in illegal migration at the southern border, with an increasing number of migrants from countries beyond Mexico and Central America, has been driven by transcontinental smuggling networks. Chinese smugglers, known as snakeheads, have utilized social media platforms like TikTok and WeChat to grow their business.
In response to this trend, Ecuador recently announced that it will require Chinese passport-holders to obtain visas, in an effort to combat smuggling. The crackdown on people smugglers is part of a broader strategy by Homeland Security to address the surge in illegal migration across the southern border.
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