Chinese Migrant Suddenly Found on California Military Base

The arrest of a Chinese national at a Marine Corps base in California is spurring many questions.

The presence of Chinese nationals on American soil has been on lawmakers' radar for months, given the recent influx of migrants at the southern and northern borders and exacerbated tensions with the Chinese Communist Party.

Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Marco Rubio are among nearly three dozen members of Congress who have requested visa changes through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They told Newsweek earlier this week that Chinese nationals' ability to enter U.S. territories like Guam through the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands without proper B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas should be immediately addressed with reform.

On Friday, Border Patrol chief agent Gregory Bovino wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that agents responded to a call from a Marine base about a Chinese national in the El Centro Sector "who entered the base without authorization, ignoring orders to leave."

"Subject was confirmed to be in the country illegally," Bovino wrote, along with an image of the suspect. "His purpose & intent behind his actions are still being investigated."

"DHS continues to enforce United States immigration laws, expanding lawful pathways while strengthening enforcement consequences for those who cross our border unlawfully," a DHS spokesperson told Newsweek via email. "Individuals and families without a legal basis to remain in the U.S. are subject to removal pursuant to Title 8 authorities and are subject to a minimum five-year bar on reapplying for admission and potential criminal prosecution if they subsequently re-enter without authorization.

"CBP is leveraging all available resources and partnerships to efficiently vet and process migrants consistent with law."

A source within CBP told Newsweek that on March 27, the 29 Palms Marine Base contacted El Centro Sector Border Patrol with a report of a suspected Chinese national who drove onto the base without authorization.

Agents called on scene determined the man was a Chinese national illegally present in the U.S. and was subsequently taken into custody, transported to a nearby station for further processing.

The law will be enforced, regardless of nationality, against those who don't use legal pathways, added the source. Those without a legal basis to stay are removed.

Jon Feere, director of investigations at the Center for Immigration Studies and a former senior adviser to the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, questioned how the migrant ended up in the U.S. in the first place.

"Illegally here because he overstayed/violated a visa? Or Illegally here because he crossed the border without inspection?" Feere wrote on X.

Gordon Chang, a journalist who has covered China for decades, wrote: "We have to assume this #Chinese national is a soldier or operative of some sort. Send him to #Guantanamo."

The El Centro Sector, located in Southern California's Imperial Valley, has existed for nearly 100 years and covers 410 square miles and 70 miles of international border. It is home to four Border Patrol stations in the cities of El Centro, Calexico, Indio and Riverside.

California has experienced an increase in Chinese migrants in recent years. There were approximately 15,700 Chinese migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in roughly the first three months of the current fiscal year, which began October 1. Those numbers already surpass the approximately 14,600 encounters in the entire 2023 fiscal year, according to CBP data.

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice indicted seven Chinese nationals suspected of hacking on China's behalf for over 14 years.

Update 04/01/24, 7:42 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from CBP.