In the fiscal year from October of last year to June of this year, about 33,508 Chinese border crossers were arrested by authorities in the southern border of the United States. Many of these Chinese border crossers find it easier to secure jobs and housing compared to illegal migrants from Latin America.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on July 19th, in the fiscal year from October of last year to June of this year, approximately 33,508 Chinese border crossers were apprehended by authorities in the southern border of the United States, a significant increase from 24,314 Chinese individuals in the previous fiscal year. In the fiscal year before that, only 2,176 Chinese individuals were arrested at the southern border.
The reason why Chinese border crossers find it easier to secure employment and housing compared to illegal immigrants from Latin America is due to their adeptness in leveraging extensive networks of friends and relatives.
Chinese border crossers endure hardships to reach the southern border of the United States, with their journey paralleling those of immigrants from South and Central American countries. However, once these two distinct groups arrive in the United States, their paths diverge.
Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveals that in the past three fiscal years, at least 1.7 million migrants were apprehended annually at the U.S.-Mexico border, with the majority hailing from Latin America. Over the past two years, the number of arrivals to Venezuela has surged to over 200,000 annually.
Many Chinese border crossers are willing to take risks to come to the United States because they see a brighter economic future compared to China. This motivation stems from challenges such as job scarcity, business closures, or the repression by the Communist Party in China.
Once Chinese border crossers enter the U.S., they often seek political asylum for their status, which requires waiting at least 150 days from the submission of their asylum application to apply for a work permit. However, many of them start working even before obtaining their work permits.
Chinese border crossers typically head to Chinese communities in states like New York and California before dispersing to Chinese-owned businesses and enterprises across the U.S. They work in various roles, including at Chinese restaurants, as gatekeepers in private residences, and even at marijuana farms operated by Chinese individuals in states where marijuana is legalized.
In neighborhoods such as Flushing, family-run hotels have sprouted up to assist new immigrants in starting their new lives. Outside the Flushing Library, advertisements for these hotels boast monthly rents as low as $290 and provide cooking facilities.
At employment agencies in Flushing, Chinese-language signs read “Welcome those without proper documentation,” but the agencies recommend that border crossers obtain work permits first. They charge $80 to $100 for each job placement and offer additional services such as assistance with applying for health insurance and truck driving licenses.