China has said it is willing to take back its citizens living illegally in the United States, as Trump threatened tariffs and sanctions on countries who don't accept deportees

China Signals Willingness to Repatriate Nationals Amid U.S. Deportation Pressure

China has stated that it is open to repatriating confirmed Chinese nationals from the United States, following threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose tariffs and sanctions on countries that refuse to accept deportees.

Tensions Over Deportations

In recent months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sent five charter flights to China carrying hundreds of Chinese nationals deemed to have no legal status in the U.S. However, officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have expressed frustration over what they describe as China’s long-standing refusal to issue travel documents, making deportations difficult.

The DHS has warned of potential visa sanctions on Chinese officials if Beijing continues to reject deportation requests for tens of thousands of Chinese nationals facing removal orders.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning addressed the issue at a press briefing in Beijing, stating:

“We have conducted practical cooperation with U.S. migration and law enforcement departments, which has been productive.”

Regarding repatriation, she clarified China’s position:

“China’s principle is to receive repatriates who are confirmed as Chinese nationals from the Chinese mainland after verification.”

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

Since taking office last week, Trump has declared illegal immigration a national emergency and directed the U.S. military to assist with border security. His administration has also:

• Issued a broad ban on asylum.
• Taken steps to restrict birthright citizenship.
• Threatened penalties on countries that resist deportation efforts.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson, Brian Hughes, reinforced Trump’s stance, stating:

“We expect all countries to accept the repatriation of their citizens who are in the United States illegally.”

Surge in Chinese Migrants Crossing the U.S. Border

The number of Chinese nationals encountered crossing the U.S. southern border illegally has surged in recent years, climbing from negligible levels to tens of thousands. This increase has been fueled by China’s economic slowdown and stricter U.S. visa policies following COVID-19 restrictions.

Trump has also considered imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting February 1 to pressure those nations to take stronger action against illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.

In a separate case, Trump had threatened tariffs and sanctions on Colombia for initially refusing to accept deportation flights. However, the White House rescinded those penalties on Sunday after Colombia agreed to accept deported nationals.