House lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to take stronger action against countries, such as China, that fail to repatriate their illegal immigrants, particularly in light of a surge of nationals crossing the southern border. A group of 14 Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, expressed concerns about the increasing number of Chinese migrants entering the U.S. and highlighted China as one of the uncooperative countries in accepting back their citizens.
In Fiscal Year 2023, a record number of 24,314 Chinese nationals crossed the border, raising significant national security concerns, including the potential for Chinese espionage. Despite recent efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to repatriate Chinese nationals, only a small fraction have been removed compared to the total influx.
The lawmakers emphasized the need for the administration to enforce immigration laws and ensure timely repatriation of removable aliens. They called for transparency on countries labeled as uncooperative, the number of aliens from these countries in the U.S., and any visa sanctions imposed since 2021.
Concerns were also raised about the reported 116 Chinese nationals repatriated on a recent charter flight, with questions regarding criminal backgrounds, gang affiliations, and espionage links. House Republicans have underscored the threat of Chinese espionage at the border, citing instances of spying at sensitive U.S. sites.
The border crisis, a key issue for voters, has sparked criticism from Republicans who accuse the administration of weakening immigration enforcement by reversing Trump-era policies. President Biden's executive actions, including border entry suspensions during high encounters, have led to a 40% decrease in encounters and a significant number of removals, returns, or expulsions.
