USA Conducts First Major Deportation Flight to China in Five Years

The Department of Homeland Security announced that it has sent 116 Chinese migrants back to China in its first large charter flight in five years. This move comes amid intense political debate over Chinese immigration in the U.S.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “We will continue to enforce our immigration laws and remove individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States.” The department is collaborating with China to combat irregular migration and human smuggling through enhanced law enforcement efforts.

This deportation flight follows a surge in illegal Chinese immigration, with over 37,000 Chinese nationals apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year. Cooperation between the U.S. and China on migration issues resumed earlier this year.

China has expressed firm opposition to illegal immigration and has intensified efforts to crack down on smuggling organizations. Homeland Security plans to conduct more removal flights in the future, although specific timelines were not provided.

The announcement coincides with Ecuador’s decision to reinstate visas for Chinese nationals, closing a key route for Chinese migrants to the Western Hemisphere.

Earlier this year, a smaller deportation flight carried an unknown number of Chinese deportees to Shenyang, China, marking the beginning of renewed efforts to address illegal immigration.

For further details, refer to the Department of Homeland Security’s official statement and related reports.