The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Thursday that it had deported a group of 131 Chinese illegal immigrants on Oct. 15, the second removal flight to China this year.
“Intending migrants should not believe the lies of smugglers—Chinese nationals without a legal basis to remain in the United States are subject to swift removal,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. “The Department of Homeland Security will continue to strengthen consequences for individuals unlawfully entering our country and enforce our nation’s laws.”
Illegal immigration has been a key issue in the 2024 presidential race.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, there have been more than 73,700 apprehensions of Chinese nationals nationwide since October 2023, with half of them occurring at the southern border.