Surge in Chinese Migrants to U.S. Amid Repressive Politics and Economic Crisis

Rise in Illegal Border Crossings Triggered by Repressive Politics and Failing Economy; a Distinct Increase in Asylum Seekers Fleeing China is Recorded at U.S.-Mexico Border

The United States has seen a surge in Chinese migrants seeking asylum, driven by repressive politics and economic struggles in their home country. Chinese people were the fourth-highest nationality crossing the dangerous Darién Gap, a popular route to the U.S., during the first nine months of this year.
China’s COVID-19 policies and struggling economy have spurred emigration. The United Nations has projected that China will lose 310,000 people through emigration this year, compared to 120,000 in 2012.
The term 'runxue,' or the study of running away, is now a meme on Chinese social media reflecting growing despair and a loss of hope for the future of the country. Migrants include a diverse range of Chinese citizens, including the educated and the uneducated, white-collar workers, small business owners, and well-off families.
The route through Ecuador has become popular as it has no visa requirements for Chinese nationals. Engaging in a perilous journey, migrants aim to trek north through several Central American countries before reaching the U.S. border. The monthly number of Chinese migrants crossing the Darién has risen gradually, from 913 in January to 2,588 in September.
There has been increased reliance on technology to navigate these journeys. Short video platforms and messaging apps provided video clips as well as step-by-step guides from China to the U.S. Translation apps enabled migrants to navigate through Central American countries despite lack of language proficiency.