Chinese Visitors to the US Face Increased Scrutiny and Deportations
In recent years, Chinese visitors traveling to the United States have found themselves under intense scrutiny by U.S. Customs officials. According to a comprehensive report by Epoch Times reporter Li Jing, nearly 300 Chinese citizens, including international students, have been interrogated and deported back to China after arriving in the United States.
The Chinese Embassy in the United States revealed that since July 2021, there have been numerous cases of Chinese individuals being questioned by U.S. border law enforcement officers and subsequently sent back to China. This includes more than 70 international students who have faced deportation.
Instances of Chinese visitors being detained and questioned by U.S. authorities have raised concerns about the motives behind these actions. In one case, a Chinese student entering the U.S. at Dulles International Airport was interrogated in a “little dark room” and asked whether he was affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. His visa was ultimately revoked, and he was banned from entering the United States permanently.
Another example highlighted the case of a visiting scholar who was detained at the San Francisco International Airport and subjected to detailed questioning about his political background and research activities. This individual was also deported and banned from entering the U.S. for five years.
The increased scrutiny on Chinese visitors is believed to be linked to concerns about potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party and China’s military-civilian fusion programs. The Trump administration’s Executive Order 10043, which restricts entry for Chinese students suspected of having connections to the CCP’s military activities, has been cited as a reason for the heightened vigilance.
Critics of the Chinese government have accused the CCP of using Chinese students and scholars as a means to access U.S. innovation secrets and undermine academic freedom. The U.S. has also raised concerns about instances of Chinese citizens attempting to steal trade secrets and intellectual property, leading to criminal charges and prosecutions.
As tensions between the U.S. and China continue to escalate, the treatment of Chinese visitors to the U.S. is likely to remain a contentious issue. The role of the CCP in influencing and monitoring Chinese nationals abroad has come under increased scrutiny, with calls for greater transparency and accountability in the relationship between Chinese students and the U.S. academic community.