"At best, they're just coming here for a better life or for a better job. At worse, they're coming here to be part of the Chinese government, and that's what scares me an awful lot."


Flee an authoritarian and increasingly oppressive regime? To be sure there are economic refugees, but there's plenty of persecuted Chinese and I posted the stories of two of them. And the Chinese don't want them back. I think the triads know how to get their people over here much easier without going through the Darien gap. But here's a new wrinkle.

<snip>
Tammy Lin: I haven't seen that happen, really. I-- I think-- even back to 2008-- a lot of the Chinese nationals that had failed asylum cases weren't able to get passports-- to be put on the plane to be sent back. So we can't send you back.

Based on our review of data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement – there are at least 36,000 Chinese who have been ordered by U.S. courts to leave the country. But China is notorious for not taking back its citizens and the U.S. can't force China to accept them.

Sharyn Alfonsi: So, then, what happens if they have a failed claim but they can't go back to China?

Tammy Lin: That's a very good question. They're stuck in this limbo.

According to the Department of Justice, last year 55% of Chinese migrants were granted asylum. compared to 14% for every other nationality. <snip>

cbsnews.com - Chinese migrants fastest growing group US mexico border minutes transcript