China says it repatriates Chinese nationals after verification
28/1/2025 6:08
China said on Monday it
is willing to repatriate confirmed Chinese nationals from the
United States, as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened
tariffs and sanctions on some countries if they do not cooperate
on accepting deportees.
In recent months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
has sent five charter flights to China with hundreds of Chinese
nationals deemed not to have a legal basis to remain in the U.S.
Nonetheless, U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials
have been frustrated by what they say is Beijing's longstanding
refusal to cooperate on repatriation by declining to issue
travel documents.
The department has warned of escalating consequences for
Chinese officials, including visa sanctions, for refusal to
accept tens of thousands of Chinese nationals in the U.S. under
deportation orders.
"We have conducted practical cooperation with the migration
and law enforcement departments of the U.S. and other countries,
which has been productive," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Mao Ning told reporters at a regular briefing in Beijing.
"As far as repatriation is concerned, China's principle is
to receive the repatriates who are confirmed as Chinese
nationals from the Chinese mainland after verification," Mao
said, when asked if China would take back Chinese nationals who
are in the U.S. illegally or without documentation.
Trump in his first day in office last week declared illegal
immigration a national emergency, tasking the U.S. military with
aiding border security, issuing a broad ban on asylum, and
taking steps to restrict citizenship for children born on
American soil.
The Republican president says the moves are necessary after
millions of immigrants entered the U.S. under the Biden
administration, both crossing illegally and through Biden's
legal entry programs.
"We expect all countries to accept the repatriation of
their citizens who are in the United States illegally," White
House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said
when asked about China's remarks.
The number of Chinese citizens encountered crossing the U.S.
southern border without permission surged in recent years, from
negligible to tens of thousands, as China's economy faced
headwinds and U.S. visas were harder to acquire due to COVID-19
restrictions.
Trump had threatened tariffs and sanctions on Colombia to
punish it for earlier refusing to accept military flights
carrying deportees. The White House said on Sunday it would not
impose its threatened penalties because the South American
country had agreed to accept the migrants.
Trump also has said he is thinking about imposing 25% duties
on imports from Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1 to force further
action against illegal immigration and fentanyl flowing into the
U.S.
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