In a push to address the increasing number of Chinese migrants crossing the U.S. southern border, a group of 14 House Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is urging the Biden administration to take action against countries, including China, that fail to repatriate their illegal immigrants.

The lawmakers expressed their concerns about the record-breaking influx of Chinese nationals, with Fiscal Year 2023 already surpassing previous numbers at 24,314 nationals. This flood of migration has raised serious national security concerns, with lawmakers and officials warning about the potential for Chinese espionage.

Highlighting China as one of the "recalcitrant" countries that refuse or delay the repatriation of their citizens, the lawmakers wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, emphasizing the grave threats posed by China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the economic and national security of the United States.

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently celebrated the first large charter flight of Chinese nationals since 2018, the lawmakers cited reports that only 150 illegal immigrants were on the flight, and in FY 2023, only 288 Chinese nationals were removed — a mere fraction of the tens of thousands entering the country. Secretary Mayorkas reassured the public that immigration laws would be enforced and individuals without a legal basis to remain in the U.S. would be removed, cautioning against believing the false promises of smugglers.

Federal law allows for visa sanctions to be imposed on recalcitrant countries until they begin accepting their citizens back. However, the lawmakers noted that visa sanctions have been lifted for Laos. The lawmakers are seeking information on which countries are currently classified as recalcitrant, the number of aliens from these countries in the U.S., and the number with criminal records. They are also requesting details on visa sanctions imposed on these countries, including China, since 2021.

Additionally, the lawmakers are seeking more information about the recent charter flight, including the criminal record, gang affiliations, and potential links to espionage of the reported 116 repatriated Chinese nationals. They also want to know the count of Chinese nationals released into the U.S.

House Republicans have been vocal about the threat of Chinese espionage, holding hearings on the issue. However, Democrats have dismissed these concerns as fearmongering. Republicans have argued that the entry of Chinese nationals poses a significant national security risk, pointing to over 100 incidents where Chinese nationals were caught spying at U.S. military installations and other sensitive sites.

The border crisis has become a key topic for voters ahead of the upcoming November election. Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for allegedly failing to effectively enforce immigration laws and for reversing policies such as the Remain-in-Mexico program and border wall construction. The administration maintains that additional funding and reforms are necessary to address what it refers to as a "broken" system.

To combat the issue, President Biden recently implemented executive action to suspend entries at times of high encounters, resulting in a 40% decrease in encounters. The administration also revealed that a majority of southern encounters in the past three fiscal years have led to removal, return, or expulsion.

As the debate surrounding the border crisis intensifies, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to the lawmakers' demands and address the increasing number of Chinese migrants entering the country through the southern border.