Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) has raised the alarm over a surge of Chinese nationals crossing the southern border illegally. In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The letter focuses on the “significant threat” to America’s national security posed by the increasing number of Chinese nationals entering the United States.
Marshall, along with other GOP leaders wrote the letter expressing concern about the approximately 18,000 Chinese nationals who have been encountered at the southern border this fiscal year. That’s compared to just over 2,000 in FY 2022, and just 450 in FY 2021.
They note that numbers have continued to increase and that the overwhelming majority are single adults. Lawmakers signed onto the letter include Sens. Mike Braun, R-Ind., Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
“July set the record for nationwide encounters with Chinese nationals with just over 6,100. 94.8 percent of Chinese national encounters in FY23 have been single adults,” they say. “This trend poses a significant threat to our national security and warrants immediate attention and action from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).”
They go on to say that “it is our understanding that not a single one of these individuals encountered has been detained for any length of time but rather benefited from this administration’s policy of catch and release.”
In addition to the national security concerns raised by Senator Marshall, the surge of Chinese nationals crossing the border has also raised concerns about economic espionage and the illegal transfer of technology. Some experts believe that China is using the border to infiltrate the United States with individuals who are skilled in science and technology. These individuals can then be used to steal American intellectual property and trade secrets.
“There have been numerous documented instances of Chinese nationals, at the direction of the CCP, engaging in espionage, stealing military and economic secrets,” they say.
Since the beginning of this year, over 18,000 Chinese nationals (many with deep ties to the CCP) have illegally crossed our southern border. This is the consequence of Joe Biden’s open border. We are demanding answers. ⬇️ https://t.co/TGrdS0xHQT
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) September 20, 2023
