{"id":2042221,"date":"2023-09-23T04:03:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T08:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-gop-senators-question-mayorkas-over-influx-of-chinese-nationals-at-southern-border\/"},"modified":"2023-09-23T04:07:15","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T08:07:15","slug":"5-gop-senators-question-mayorkas-over-influx-of-chinese-nationals-at-southern-border","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-gop-senators-question-mayorkas-over-influx-of-chinese-nationals-at-southern-border\/","title":{"rendered":"5 GOP Senators query Mayorkas on surge of Chinese nationals at US-Mexico border."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F5-gop-senators-question-mayorkas-over-influx-of-chinese-nationals-at-southern-border%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2042221&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Republican Senators Demand Answers on National Security Threats Posed by Chinese Nationals Illegally Entering US<\/h2>\n<p>Republican senators are demanding answers from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas\u200c over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-gop-senators-question-mayorkas-over-influx-of-chinese-nationals-at-southern-border\/\" title=\"5 GOP Senators query Mayorkas on surge of Chinese nationals at US-Mexico border.\">national security\u200d threats posed<\/a> by a \u2064surge in Chinese nationals illegally entering the United States via the southern border.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Led by Sen. Roger \u200cMarshall (R-Kan.), five senators wrote a letter (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.senate.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Letter-to-DHS-on-Chinese-Nationals-Crossing-the-Border-9.20.23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf<\/a>) to Mr. Mayorkas on Sept. 20, pointing out that over 18,000 Chinese nationals have illegally crossed the southern border in fiscal year 2023. The lawmakers expressed \u2063concerns that these illegal Chinese immigrants could engage in espionage activities on U.S. soil at the\u2063 direction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Moreover, the lawmakers alleged \u2063that some of the\u200b more\u2064 than 18,000 \u2062individuals could have ties to the CCP military, \u200dformally known as the People\u2019s Liberation Army\u2064 (PLA).<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/as-us-and-canada-take-action-australia-authorities-still-not-concerned-about-illegal-chinese-police-stations-5289980?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>As \u2062US and Canada\u200d Take Action, Australian Authorities \u200dStill Not Concerned About Illegal Chinese Police Stations<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">5\/24\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/as-us-and-canada-take-action-australia-authorities-still-not-concerned-about-illegal-chinese-police-stations-5289980?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/tiktok-lookalike-guides-illegal-chinese-immigrants-to-swarm-into-us-through-southern-border-5229906?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>TikTok Lookalike Guides Illegal Chinese Immigrants to Swarm Into US Through Southern Border<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">4\/28\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/tiktok-lookalike-guides-illegal-chinese-immigrants-to-swarm-into-us-through-southern-border-5229906?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cChinese nationals \u2063crossing the border may include individuals\u2063 who could engage in \u2063espionage activities or cyber-attacks against our critical infrastructure, government agencies, \u200dor private sector entities,\u201d the lawmakers\u2062 wrote. \u201cThere have \u200bbeen numerous documented instances of Chinese nationals, at the direction of \u2064the CCP, engaging \u200din espionage, stealing military and economic secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In comparison, 2,176 Chinese nationals crossed the southern border \u2062illegally in fiscal year 2022, and 450 in fiscal year 2021, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbp.gov\/newsroom\/stats\/nationwide-encounters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">data<\/a> from \u2063the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In July alone, there were 3,106 encounters with illegal Chinese immigrants at the southern border. By contrast, U.S. border\u200c agents recorded 306 encounters during the same month in 2022, and 75 in 2021.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Most of the illegal Chinese immigrants are single adults. According to CBP data, about 86 percent of encounters from October last year to July this year involved single adults.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis trend poses a significant threat\u2062 to our national security and warrants immediate attention and action \u2064from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),\u201d the lawmakers wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFurthermore, it is our understanding that not a single \u2064one of these individuals encountered has been detained\u2064 for \u200dany length of time but rather \u200bbenefitted from this administration\u2019s policy of catch\u200d and release,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cCBP is releasing busloads of\u2062 these individuals into the U.S. interior.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>U.S. \u200bSecretary\u2062 of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas delivers remarks during an\u2063 event at the Department of Homeland Security&#8217;s \u200c(DHS) St. Elizabeth&#8217;s Campus in Washington on Aug. 17, 2023. \u2062(Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The lawmakers wanted Mr. Mayorkas to \u2063answer more than 10 questions before Oct. \u200b11.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow does Customs \u200dand Border Protection identify the nationality\u2064 of those from China \u2064and whether or not they \u2063have ties to the CCP \u2063or PLA?\u201d one question in the letter asks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHas CBP identified any instances of Chinese nationals apprehended at \u200bthe border being suspected\u200d of intending to engage in foreign espionage?\u201d says another question. \u201cWhere have Chinese nationals apprehended at the border been released into \u200cthe United \u2062States?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Pete\u2063 Ricketts (R-Neb.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) signed the letter.<\/p>\n<h2>Legislation<\/h2>\n<p>To prevent CCP\u2064 members from claiming asylum in the United States, \u200cMr. Rubio, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Braun, and Mr. Ricketts, along with Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), introduced the No Asylum for CCP Spies Act (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/118th-congress\/senate-bill\/2905\/cosponsors?s=3&#038;r=1&#038;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22marco+rubio%22%7D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">S.2905<\/a>) on Sept. 21.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe American people are facing the repercussions of the Biden\u2064 Administration\u2019s open border policy, which is creating chaos\u2062 and putting our \u2062communities\u200b at risk. We don\u2019t know who\u2019s illegally entering our nation,\u201d Mr. Rubio wrote in a \u2064statement \u2064accompanying the introduction of\u200d the bill.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Rubio added, \u201cThis\u2062 presents \u2064an opportunity for the Chinese Communist Party to \u200bfurther take advantage and threaten our democracy and national security interests.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks during a press conference in the U.S. Capitol in\u2062 Washington on July 11, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to the text (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rubio.senate.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/09.21.23-No-Asylum-for-CCP-Spies-Act.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf<\/a>) of the bill,\u200b there \u2062are several conditions that a foreign national can\u2063 be granted asylum, including having \u201cpublicly renounced his \u2062or her membership \u2062in the Communist or \u2063totalitarian party.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In addition, a foreign national can prove to the attorney general or \u2062the secretary \u200dof homeland \u2062security that his\u2063 party membership was either \u2064\u201cinvoluntary, limited to a period when \u200cthe alien was younger than 16 years of age,\u201d\u200b or \u201csolely for \u2063the \u2063purpose of obtaining employment, food rations, or other living essentials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the attorney general or\u2064 the secretary of homeland security can determine that a foreign national \u201cis not \u200da danger to \u2064the \u200dsecurity of the United States,\u201d after consulting the director of national intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince Joe Biden refuses to stop the flow of Chinese nationals streaming across our southern border, Senator Rubio\u2019s No Asylum for CCP Spies Act is needed to disincentivize these individuals from\u2063 invading our \u200bcountry,\u201d Mr. Marshall wrote in a statement accompanying the introduction of the bill.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Marshall\u2064 added, \u201cWe must strip \u200dasylum eligibility from the communist spies who are no doubt hiding among the masses at the\u2062 southern\u2062 border.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According\u200d to CBP \u2062data, there have been 39,575 encounters with Chinese nationals at the northern and southern borders from October last year to July this year. In comparison, there were 27,756 encounters in \u200bfiscal year 2022.<\/p>\n<p>A companion version of \u200dthe legislation has been introduced in\u2063 the House\u200d by Reps. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), and Byron Donald (R-Fla.).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAsylum is intended to \u2063be a form of protection that allows an individual to remain in the United States instead of being removed \u2062from a country\u200d where they \u200bwill face persecution. If these individuals claiming asylum in the United States are members of the CCP, they are not in fear of returning \u200bto Communist \u2064China,\u201d Mr. Nehls said in a statement\u2062 accompanying the introduction of \u200dthe bill.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey \u200care here to infiltrate our society, steal our intellectual property, gain our country\u2019s secrets, and report back to [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u2064 What actions are being taken by the Department of Homeland Security to screen\u200d and vet Chinese nationals crossing \u200cthe southern \u2064border and prevent espionage activities? <\/h2>\n<p><span>  =&#8221;noopener&#8221;>Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data<\/a>. This represents a significant\u200d increase in the number\u2063 of Chinese\u2064 nationals illegally entering\u200c the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The senators\u200b emphasized that the influx of Chinese nationals \u2062raises serious national security concerns. They expressed particular concern about individuals with ties to the CCP military, as the PLA has been known to engage in cyber-attacks and espionage activities against the United States and other countries.<\/p>\n<p>The senators urged Secretary \u200cMayorkas to take immediate action to address this issue and\u2064 enhance\u200c border security measures. They requested information on how \u2062the Department of Homeland Security is screening and vetting Chinese nationals coming across the southern \u200cborder, as well as the resources allocated to detect and prevent \u2064espionage activities.<\/p>\n<p>The lawmakers also \u2064called for cooperation \u2064with \u2062the intelligence community and \u200dthe sharing\u2062 of relevant information to ensure the safety and security of the United States. \u2062They stressed the importance\u2064 of a robust and comprehensive approach to countering\u2063 the\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-dept-spox-largest-threat-to-u-s-national-security-are-u-s-cops\/\" title=\"State Dept Spox: \u2018Largest Threat to U.S. National Security are U.S. Cops\u2019\">national security threats posed<\/a> by Chinese nationals illegally entering the country.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the senators \u2063emphasized the need \u200bfor diplomatic \u2064efforts to address \u2062this \u2063issue with the Chinese government. They\u2062 called on Secretary Mayorkas to engage with his counterparts in China to \u2062seek their cooperation in preventing and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mark-krikorkian-bidens-open-borders-will-cost-taxpayers-100-billion-and-counting\/\" title=\"Mark Krikorkian: Biden\u2019s Open Borders Will Cost Taxpayers 0 Billion \u2014 And Counting\">deterring illegal immigration<\/a> \u200dand espionage activities directed\u2063 by the CCP.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"in-article-contact-us\">\n<div class=\"in-article-contact-us__main\">\n<div class=\"in-article-contact-us__content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"in-article-contact-us__header\">\n<h3 class=\"in-article-contact-us__title\">Contact Us<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"in-article-contact-us__text\">To submit a news tip,\u200d correction, or comment, please <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/submission-guidelines\">contact us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The surge in Chinese nationals illegally crossing the southern \u2063border is a matter of \u200dgrave concern. The\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-demands-information-from-homeland-security-chief-on-chinese-tech-used-at-us-ports\/\" title=\"GOP House requests details from Homeland Security Chief on Chinese tech at US ports.\">potential national security threats posed<\/a> by these individuals cannot be ignored. It \u2062is crucial that\u2063 the Department of Homeland Security takes immediate action to \u200daddress this\u2062 issue \u2064and strengthen\u200d border security measures.<\/p>\n<p>The senators&#8217; demand for answers from Secretary Mayorkas is a step in the right \u2062direction. By \u200bhighlighting the risks\u200b associated with the influx\u2064 of Chinese nationals and \u200dcalling\u200b for information on screening procedures and resources,\u200d they are pushing for greater transparency \u2062and accountability in addressing this national security challenge.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the senators&#8217;\u200b emphasis on diplomatic \u2064efforts with the Chinese government underscores the need for international \u2063cooperation in countering the illicit activities of the CCP. \u2062It is essential \u2062to\u200c engage with China and\u2063 seek their cooperation in preventing illegal immigration and\u2063 deterring espionage activities.<\/p>\n<p>Protecting national security \u200bshould be a \u200btop priority for any \u2062government. By demanding answers and taking proactive measures, the Republican senators are working \u2062towards safeguarding the interests of the United States and ensuring a secure\u2064 and stable\u200c future.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republican senators, led by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), have written a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking answers regarding the national security risks caused by a surge in illegal entry of Chinese nationals through the southern border. They highlighted that more than 18,000 Chinese individuals have entered the United States unlawfully.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":252,"featured_media":2042222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2042221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/252"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2042221"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042221\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2042222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2042221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2042221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2042221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}