The recent surge of Chinese nationals attempting to illegally enter the United States via Mexico has increased 50-fold, from 689 in 2021 to 37,000 in 2023, placing heightened pressure on America’s border management and national security systems.
Yet, today’s crisis goes beyond a simple immigration issue because it involves sophisticated smuggling networks, potential espionage concerns and a strategic effort by China to exploit and amplify long-standing border challenges for propaganda purposes. Addressing these issues requires a compassionate yet vigilant approach, recognizing both the humanitarian needs of legitimate asylum seekers and the Chinese government’s malign intentions.
The drivers of today’s migrant surge are multifaceted. Economic hardships and political repression in China have driven many citizens to seek better lives abroad. However, these migrant flows are also facilitated by vast Chinese smuggling networks whose operations leverage Chinese social media platforms like WeChat and Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Here, prospective migrants can find step-by-step instructions about how to illegally enter the United States. These platforms also serve to connect migrants with traffickers, who typically charge thousands of dollars to facilitate their dangerous journey to the border.
In addition to benefitting the traffickers, the surge presents opportunities for Chinese intelligence operatives, using falsified documentation and other covert means, to bypass already weak border screening protocols and potentially gain entry into our country. Such moves are consistent with China’s documented deployment of undercover personnel to operate underground police stations across the U.S., tasked with harassing and forcibly repatriating anti-regime critics.
Furthermore, Chinese national security laws require all Chinese citizens to assist state intelligence activities, thereby providing China’s intelligence agencies with a powerful tool to coerce and take advantage of vulnerable migrants headed for the border.
Beyond state-directed espionage, Chinese transnational criminal organizations also stand to benefit from today’s border vulnerabilities. Already, these networks are facilitating the illegal movement of counterfeit goods, weapons and people across the border, significantly contributing to the U.S. opioid crisis. Sadly, these same syndicates now appear poised to exploit and potentially coerce migrants into aiding their operations, entangling humanitarian and security challenges.
China uses the border chaos for propaganda purposes, too, portraying the U.S. as a failing democracy unable to secure its sovereignty. This narrative, projected globally, diminishes Washington’s international standing and bolsters China’s robust efforts to undermine Western democratic values.
Chinese state and social media often amplify this portrayal, contrasting the perceived disorder in the U.S. with the purported stability of China’s authoritarian regime. Meanwhile, the Chinese government obscures the reality that its own citizens are fleeing in search of freedom and opportunities overseas. This manipulation of information serves to strengthen China’s geopolitical position at the expense of U.S. credibility, while diverting attention from its domestic problems, such as the regime’s human rights abuses and internal repression.
A recent example from the Texas border highlights China’s pervasive propaganda tactics. Earlier this year, Chinese media depicted the standoff between Texas state authorities and the federal government in Eagle Pass as a precursor to civil war. Chinese social media platforms circulated posts under the hashtag #TexasDeclaresAStateOfWar, with claims that Texas was gearing up for a military confrontation with federal authorities. One viral post falsely claimed, “The People’s Republic of Texas will most likely be founded!” Another suggested that “the U.S. federal military and the Texas National Guard met on the battlefield.”
To counter these evolving threats, policymakers need to think creatively about enhancing border security and inter-agency cooperation, with a focus on crafting strategic responses that balance security needs and the humane treatment of all individuals arriving at the border.
One idea worth considering is establishing a specialized task force within the Department of Homeland Security focused on the unique challenges posed by today’s Chinese migrant flows. This unit, modeled on other units tasked with countering transnational criminal networks, could integrate intelligence from various agencies to disrupt smuggling operations. It could also be charged with developing targeted outreach programs for Chinese communities, informing them about legal immigration pathways and the dangers of smuggling networks. Clear messaging to potential migrants about the risks of unauthorized entry should be disseminated through Chinese social media and international broadcasting.
Such an effort should also include upgrading screening technologies and improving data-sharing with international, but particularly regional, partners to better screen and vet Chinese migrants. This is particularly true in countries like Ecuador, the first stop for many Chinese migrants on their way to the U.S.-Mexico border.
As Washington grapples with today’s record migrant flows, it’s vital to recognize the high stakes involved. The integrity of our national borders, the safety of our citizens and the stability of our global standing are all at risk. Bipartisan cooperation is essential to address these challenges and strengthen our national resilience against geopolitical manipulation and aggression. A united, strategic approach is necessary to secure our borders and safeguard our nation’s future.
Craig Singleton is the senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ China Program and a former U.S. diplomat.