Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) is demanding answers from immigration officials about what he calls a “growing trend of Chinese nationals trying to enter the United States illegally.”
“I write today to express my continued concern over the Biden Administration border policies that wreak havoc in my district and throughout my community,” Gimenez wrote in a letter to US Customs and Border Protection Thursday., a copy of which was exclusively obtained by The Post.
“As our adversaries become more emboldened to find unique ways to exploit our weaknesses, it is imperative that the US Border Patrol is prepared to encounter these individuals before they enter the country,” Gimenez told CBP acting commissioner Troy Miller.
The Florida Republican referenced a Miami Herald report that 19 Chinese and three Ecuadorian nationals arrived in the Florida Keys last month, pointing to more CBP data that shows the entrances display a “growing trend.”
More than 52,000 Chinese nationals entered the US in fiscal year 2023, a figure “vastly larger than 2021 and 2022 encounters,” according to Gimenez.
“Coupled with China’s aspirations to build relationships with Latin American and Caribbean nations in close geographic proximity to the United States through their Belt and Road Initiative, it seems apparent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is attempting to infiltrate our open borders for their own interests,” he added.
CBP data show 18,395 Chinese migrants were caught attempting to enter the US in 2020, 23,471 were caught in fiscal year 2021 and 27,756 in fiscal year 2022.
The numbers have climbed steadily since President Biden took office, alarming congressional Republicans.
“We have no idea how many terrorists or foreign spies have taken advantage of Biden’s open border to gain unlawful entry into the United States,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told The Post in August.
“China has grown more brazen over the past three years, and an open border would be an easy way for Xi to send operatives into our country.”
Beijing launched a spy balloon in January that went on to traverse American airspace from Alaska to South Carolina before being shot down by the US Air Force Feb. 4.
White House officials also confirmed earlier this year that China has maintained a covert spy base in Cuba since at least 2019 — which has “serious national security implications,” Gimenez stressed in his letter.
The Cuban-born GOP lawmaker asked Miller to respond by Dec. 22 with details about the group that came to Florida, as well as how many Chinese nationals have applied for asylum since entering the country.
Gimenez also requested further information about the Florida group’s paths of travel, whether they had Chinese government or military ties and where they are currently being held.