DHS Conducts Second Charter Removal Flight to China Since 2018

Several media outlets have been reporting the October 15, 2024 charter flight to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as being the first large charter flight since 2018 but the official statement from the US Department of Homeland Security states that this was the second flight to the PRC this year and there was another flight in June 2024, which was the first since 2018.

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DHS Conducts Second Charter Removal Flight to China Since 2018

On October 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted its second charter removal flight to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This was the second large charter removal flight to the PRC since 2018.

According to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, this week’s flight demonstrates “the Department’s continued commitment to pursuing sustained cooperation with the PRC and other international partners to reduce and deter irregular migration.” He further stated, “Intending migrants should not believe the lies of smugglers – Chinese nationals without a legal basis to remain in the United States are subject to swift removal.”

Criticisms of the Biden Administration’s Immigration Enforcement

Many have been critical of the Biden administration and by extension Vice President Harris for being weak on border security and not enforcing US immigration laws. The media has been running with the narrative that the Biden administration has been allowing millions of immigrants to enter the US illegally and remain in the country.

“The Department of Homeland Security will continue to strengthen consequences for individuals unlawfully entering our country and enforce our nation’s laws.” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas

More Deportations in 2024 Than Any Year Since 2010

From May 2023 to January 2024, the latest available data, there have been 520,000 returns and removals. The data shows that the Biden administration has been apprehending and prosecuting millions of immigrants for being in the country unlawfully. The criticisms of the Biden administration do not align with the available data as the number of immigrants being deported from the US are largely unchanged from from when Trump was in office and depending on how one interprets the data, Biden has deported more immigrants during certain time periods.

Looking at encounters at the border in particular, where Biden has received the most criticism especially from Trump and the neo-conservative media, the numbers are clear. For Trump in 2017-526k, 2018-638k, 2019-1.1M, 2020-646k. For Biden 2021-1.9M, 2022-2.7M, 2023-3.2M, 2024 (as of June) 2.2M.

DHS highlighted this in their press release about the more than 100 Chinese nationals that were returned to the PRC. The press release on the DHS website reads, “Over the last year, DHS has removed individuals to a range of countries around the world, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Uzbekistan, India, and the PRC. As a result of these efforts, DHS removed or returned more individuals in FY2024 than any year since FY2010. Efforts to expand removal flights continue.”