Florida Republican raises the alarm after 17 Chinese nationals apprehended in district

Florida Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez raised the alarm after 17 Chinese nationals were apprehended in Key Largo, which is inside his district. 

"Florida Highway Patrol and U.S. Border Agents detained 17 Chinese nationals after illegally making landfall in Key Largo - my district," Gimenez said on Thursday.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the Select Committee on China, Gimenez said he has requested more information from federal agencies, including Customs and Border Patrol, about the issue. 

He called the discovery of the foreign nationals "very concerning" and said he has received indications that the "Chinese Communist Party is getting more and more influence in our hemisphere." He also said he thinks that it is the first time U.S. authorities have apprehended Chinese nationals in his part of the country.

The discovery of Chinese nationals comes as the communist country is posing an increasing threat against the U.S., according to defense officials. Meanwhile, illegal immigration hit record numbers in the 2023 fiscal year.

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.