Rising Economic Instability Drives Chinese Migrants to Undertake Hazardous Route to U.S. Asylum

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Deng Guangsen, a 28-year-old man from China’s southern province of Guangdong, appeared visibly fatigued and disoriented as U.S. Border Patrol agents deposited him at a transit hub in San Diego. Having journeyed for two months through seven nations via various modes of transport—air, road, and even on foot through the treacherous Darién Gap jungle in Panama—Deng summed up his emotional state: “I feel nothing.” Utilizing broken English acquired from the “Harry Potter” films, he further noted, “I have no brother, no sister. I have nobody.”

Deng’s voyage epitomizes a larger and emerging trend of Chinese migration to the United States, facilitated in part by social media platforms. According to immigration authorities in Panama, Chinese nationals were the fourth-largest group, preceded by Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, and Haitians, to have navigated the perilous Darién Gap in the first nine months of this year. These migrants, both in conversations with The Big Big News and according to experts observing the situation, cite repressive political conditions and deteriorating economic opportunities in China as their primary motivations for seeking asylum.

This pattern also forms part of an overarching demographic shift at the U.S.-Mexico border, characterized by increasing numbers of migrants from Asia, South America, and Africa. These factors contributed to making September a peak month for unauthorized border crossings, and the 2023 fiscal year one of the highest on record for such activities.

Migration from China, which had been briefly suppressed due to the pandemic and China’s stringent COVID-19 border policies, has resumed in the context of a sluggish economic recovery and high rates of youth unemployment. United Nations projections indicate that China will experience a loss of 310,000 people to emigration this year, a significant rise compared to the 120,000 in 2012. This phenomenon has gained a colloquial name, “runxue,” which originated as a coded term to evade censorship and has since evolved into an internet meme.

Cai Xia, formerly a professor at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party and currently editor-in-chief of Yibao’s online commentary platform, described the wave of emigration as reflective of a general sense of despair and loss of faith in China’s future. This sentiment spans a broad cross-section of Chinese society, affecting both the educated and uneducated, white-collar professionals, small business owners, and even those from affluent families.

Despite challenges in obtaining visas, Chinese nationals are finding alternative methods of entering the United States, often seeking asylum upon arrival at the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. Border Patrol recorded 22,187 arrests of Chinese nationals for illegal border crossings between January and September, marking a nearly thirteen-fold increase over the same period in 2022.

One frequently utilized pathway to the U.S. commences in Ecuador—a country that does not require visas for Chinese visitors—and involves a trek through the Darién jungle and several Central American countries before culminating at the U.S. border. This route has become so well-known that it has acquired its own colloquial name in Chinese: “zouxian,” or “walk the line.”

Technological tools like short video platforms and messaging apps have further facilitated this migration by offering step-by-step guides and other forms of logistical support for the journey. Translation applications enable migrants to navigate regions where they do not speak the local language.

Those who can afford to are opting for more direct routes. Xi Yan, 46, and her daughter Song Siming, 24, for instance, flew into Mexico via Europe and crossed into the U.S. with the aid of a local guide. The motivations for their journey stem from a mix of economic and political factors, including high unemployment and state harassment.

While migrants await their legal hearings in the United States, many are housed in temporary accommodations like the shelters provided by Catholic Charities of San Diego. Yet, most are eager to move on quickly to join family or friends in cities across the United States.

Even as Chinese migrants brave hardships to make these perilous journeys, many find solace in their arrival in the United States. For them, the risk and challenges are outweighed by the prospect of a life less burdened by political and economic hardships.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chinese migrants to U.S. border

More about Chinese migrants to U.S. border

• China’s Political Climate
• U.S. Asylum Policies
• Panamanian Immigration Statistics
• Chinese Emigration Trends
• Darién Gap: A Perilous Journey
• U.S. Border Arrest Data
• Impact of Social Media on Migration
• Global Migration Patterns to the U.S.
• U.N. Reports on Global Migration
• Historical Background: Chinese Migration to the U.S.