Wishful thinking born of a China crisis
Ultimately, a wishful thinking that they not be caught in the US deportation dragnet will be the only thing left of the Chinese migrants’ enervated psyche
Daily TribuneUltimately, a wishful thinking that they not be caught in the US deportation dragnet will be the only thing left of the Chinese migrants’ enervated psyche
No, this piece is not about an ‘80s new wave song. Nor is it about an ‘80s British band with an Asian-looking vocal lead.
No, this is about the wishful thinking of some undocumented Chinese migrants in the US who are very worried about their fate in the land of the free.
Last month, an NBC News report featured the plight of undocumented people from China in light of the anticipated hard-line immigration policy of the incoming administration.
Reportedly, sources in Trump’s transition team confirmed to NBC News that military-age Chinese migrants will be among the top deportation targets in view of the suspected clandestine espionage operations being conducted by the Chinese government inside the US.
In a March 2024 piece titled “Red Dawn redux,” this corner reported, citing USDHS data, that “the number of Chinese illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico jumped from an average of 1,500 per year during the past decade to more than 37,000 in 2023.”
The above figures find support in the NBC story. From 2022 through 2024, the number of illegal Chinese border crossers reportedly tripled from 27,000 to over 78,000.
The March 2024 article also noted that China’s “belligerent posturing has provided certain anti-immigrant groups in the US potent ammunition to accuse China of building an army of undercover spies in the country under the guise of illegal immigration.”
Coincidentally, it appears that the Trump team is on the same page and has in fact set plans in place to deal with the potential threat.
In the same March 2024 article, this corner attributed the unprecedented Chinese global migration to China’s worsening economic crisis and the country’s politically constrictive government policies.
Based on NBC interviews, some Chinese migrants lament the fact that they are being perceived, unfairly they say, as a national security threat, when in reality they are just looking for better economic opportunities in the US.
Many cling to the hope that they will be spared from deportation.
Ironically, while most are trying to escape the oppressive political climate in China, all anticipate being subjected to harsh treatment once strict immigration enforcement begins, including being detained while awaiting deportation.
Many dread the prospect of being shipped back to China, where they expect to be ostracized and looked down on as outcasts, if not punished severely, for fleeing to America.
According to one Chinese migrant, “The Chinese people that I encountered crossing illegally into the United States have a simple purpose: To find a place where they can survive.”
Unfortunately, and despite the benign intentions of most of them, no one, not even the incoming President’s political opponents, can truly blame the latter for casting the Chinese migrants as “potential” national security threats, given their country’s propensity for violating international law.
Indeed, it is a laundry list of lawless transgressions: Attacking foreign sailors in international waters. Running secret police stations in other countries. Engaging in cyber-espionage against foreign governments. Interfering with the electoral systems of other nations. Stealing secrets from private corporations.
The list goes on.
Ultimately, a wishful thinking that they not be caught in the US deportation dragnet will be the only thing left of the Chinese migrants’ enervated psyche.
What a tragic comeuppance for the sins of their fatherland.