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Opinion | How tech firms can do their part to end migrants’ suffering
- The plight of US-bound Chinese migrants duped by false information on social media highlights how people smugglers prey on those seeking a better life
- Tech companies must work with governments and civil society organisations to remove misinformation online that promotes illegal activity
Reading Time:3 minutes
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A recent report by US television channel CBS has revealed that Chinese immigrants are the fastest-growing group of undocumented migrants to the United States. Braving long journeys through several countries, thousands are reported to be entering from China every year.
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Video footage shot by CBS showed a specific gap in the border wall between Mexico and San Diego, California, where several Chinese migrants walked through to cross the border. Surprisingly, many officials at the border appear to be aware of the large numbers crossing through such gaps, but do not take much action.
US border authorities have revealed that more than 24,000 Chinese immigrants were detained in 2023 and that the numbers are expected to increase in 2024. Several factors seem to be driving this trend of migration. First, within China itself, the conditions created by the central government seem to have motivated people to head for the US, which they perceive to be freer in terms of democratic rights.
In addition, many see better economic prospects in the US, given that China is facing a slowdown and many people were deeply affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns. And third, the deterioration in US-China relations has led to fewer visas being issued to Chinese nationals.
From a high of 2.2 million temporary visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2016, only about 160,000 were granted in 2022, a fall of more than 90 per cent. This has led some Chinese citizens to take desperate measures to enter the US for a better life.
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Influx of Chinese migrants on hazardous Central American route to reach US
Influx of Chinese migrants on hazardous Central American route to reach US
One of the most ubiquitous tools in this whole story is social media. In the case of Chinese migrants, the platforms are TikTok and Douyin – the Chinese version of TikTok – which have been useful in spreading information about immigration routes.
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