Border Patrol apprehensions of Chinese nationals at southern border up more than 700% from last year

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has apprehended over 700% more migrants from China at the southern border so far this fiscal year, compared to fiscal 2022.

Since October, the start of each fiscal year, Border Patrol has encountered 2,999 Chinese nationals at the southern border, more than the 2,176 Chinese migrants encountered at the border during all of fiscal 2022, according to federal data released Friday.

By this time last fiscal year, 366 Chinese nationals had been encountered at the southern border, marking a 719% increase in apprehensions so far in fiscal 2023.

Border Patrol apprehensions of Chinese nationals, including those entering through Canada or via airplane, are up overall by 13% so far this fiscal year with 10,587 encounters. This is below the increase in all migrant encounters, which is 37% higher than this time last fiscal year.

It is unclear why so many more Chinese migrants are choosing to try to enter through the southern border, but it comes at a time when the U.S. is facing record migration. U.S. relations with China are also particularly tense after the U.S. military downed four suspicious aerial objects in less than two weeks. Officials say that three of the objects were likely Chinese surveillance balloons.