The Underground Escape: How an Illicit Network Assists Migrants in Fleeing China to Reach the US

The exhausted travelers arrive at the United States-Mexico border with backpacks holding a few spare changes of clothes and whatever money and phones they managed to hold onto. Like the countless others who have made the grueling journey north, they are driven by a desperate desire to escape and start anew, despite the unknown challenges that await them on the other side.

However, these migrants are escaping from the second largest economy in the world and a rising superpower.

Dozens of Chinese nationals were seen waiting in various makeshift camps located near the Mexican border, just north of San Diego, California on a recent winter day.

A group of Chinese migrants gathered at a temporary camp near the US-Mexican border after illegally crossing into the US.

Evelio Contreras/CNN

Wrapped in hoodies and jackets, they gathered around fires, anxiously waiting for US border control agents to start the processing that they hoped would lead to a new life in America.

The recent surge in arrivals signals a notable new pattern. According to government data, over 31,000 Chinese nationals were apprehended by law enforcement for illegally entering the US from Mexico in the first 11 months of 2023. This is a significant increase compared to an average of about 1,500 per year over the past decade.

While their numbers are still smaller than those from nearby countries like Mexico, Venezuela, and Guatemala, and they are not the only ones arriving from other parts of the world, the notable influx of Chinese migrants crossing highlights the growing urgency felt by many to leave their home country, despite leader Xi Jinping's claims of a "national rejuvenation."

Many of those who departed cited a desperate battle for survival. After enduring three years of Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, individuals across China found themselves unemployed and disenchanted with the ruling Communist Partys expanding control over every facet of life under Xi. Despite initial optimism a year ago that the economy would bounce back once restrictions were lifted, Chinas previously impressive economic growth has faltered.

Restrictions on personal life in China are acknowledged by others, where Xi has implemented a widespread crackdown on free speech, civil society, and religion in the country's 1.4 billion population. When asked what had led him there, one neatly dressed middle-aged man simply stated, "We are Christians," at a bare encampment thousands of miles from home.

Chinese citizens are now among the many migrants adding to the surge of illegal crossings at the southwest US border. Many are hoping to seek asylum, but this pathway may soon become more restricted as Congress seeks to address the ongoing immigration debate. Based on recent law enforcement data, individuals from China are projected to become the most rapidly increasing group participating in these border encounters.

The gateway

As the exodus of numbers continues to increase, a parallel growth in businesses and social media accounts targeting Chinese migrants has also emerged. These migrants often have to navigate a convoluted path across different continents before embarking on the challenging journey northward.

The overland journey often starts in Quito, Ecuador, a city of approximately 2.5 million people nestled in the Andean foothills and serving as a gateway for those fleeing China.

In 2022, Ecuador recorded approximately 13,000 Chinese nationals entering, and by the first 11 months of 2023, that number had climbed to over 45,000. Chinese passport holders are not required to have a visa to enter the country.

There is a growing industry of businesses that cater to those heading to the border, providing services such as airport pickups, Chinese-run hostel accommodations, and organizing the journey north for a significant fee, according to CNN reporting. Evidence of this trend can be found throughout Quito for those who know where to look.

At a certain bus station, there is a ticket agent who has a sign for "the Colombian border" printed in Chinese, ready to display to potential customers. Meanwhile, at a local hospital that offers vaccinations - recommended for a treacherous jungle crossing - the Spanish-speaking nurse keeps a Chinese translation of the intake form on her desk.

A ticket agent in Quito holds up a sign written in Chinese for the bus to "Tulcan at the Colombian border."

Yong Xiong/CNN

In the outskirts of the city's central business district, an increasing number of businesses are catering to the trend, according to Long Quanwei, a travel agent who moved to Quito from China five years ago and spoke to CNN last month.

Convenience and department stores in the area sell equipment and supplies required for the journey north, while Chinese-owned shops provide accommodation, food, and a gathering place for individuals heading north to discuss their onward routes, Long explains.

One of the hostels offers a night's stay with meals for approximately $20 and provides printed Chinese-language maps and instructions pasted on the wall to guide travelers on each leg of their journey. The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous due to fear of online backlash, estimates that there are around 100 similar small businesses catering to Chinese travelers, especially those getting ready to travel north.

Zheng Shiqing, a 28-year-old with a serious expression, arrived in early December after traveling by plane through Thailand, Morocco, and Spain. Despite encountering setbacks, he was among those passing through.

During his initial journey through Colombia, Zheng and his travel companion were held up at gunpoint and robbed. After losing his phone and money, he returned to Quito to gather himself. Despite the setback, he remained committed to moving forward towards the US in order to break a cycle he had observed in China.

Zheng, a high-school graduate from rural Yunnan province, whose parents are migrant workers in China, described the growing hardships faced by people like him, despite the rapid economic growth that has lifted many out of poverty. "I wish I had never been born... life feels so overwhelming."

Zheng Shiqing, a Chinese migrant

He began working in a factory mixing glue for shoe boxes in his late teens, and later worked at an assembly line manufacturing smartphone parts for Apple. During the pandemic, he was confined to another factory producing internet routers and was unable to leave. Once the lockdown was lifted, Zheng took on a new job where he claims he was never paid, despite filing a formal complaint.

Earlier this year, like thousands of other Chinese people, Zheng made the decision to attempt "zou xian" or taking the "walking route" to America.

Dire straits

The expression has now become synonymous with the risky voyage, much like "worldwide excursions" - a popular search query for individuals seeking Chinese online guides on prepping, navigating each phase, and communicating with immigration authorities.

China's previously relaxed Covid-19 controls have disproportionately impacted blue collar workers in cities and rural residents. The economy is further hampered by a property market crisis, high local government debt, and a government crackdown on the once-thriving private sector, resulting in significant job losses.

People walk on a street at the end of the workday in Beijing on March 17, 2023. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) (Photo by GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images/File

Chinas economy had a miserable year. 2024 might be even worse

Following an all-time high in urban youth unemployment last year, the government ceased the publication of this data. The Communist Party promised to take action to strengthen the economy and suppress negative news about it.

Victor Shih, director of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California San Diego, noted, "It's remarkable how many people are undertaking the risky journey to South America and then to the US despite the country's political stability," highlighting the difference from previous periods of Chinese emigration during times of political unrest.

The data indicates that a considerable portion of the populace is facing severe economic hardship. During the mid-20th Century, hundreds of thousands sought refuge in Hong Kong from the mainland due to civil war, political unrest, and famine during Mao Zedong's leadership of Communist China.

People escaping famine in mainland China were detained by Hong Kong police and British troops after crossing the border into the city in May 1962.

AP

The Chinese emigration to the United States surged after China's economy opened in the early 1980s, just over a decade following the relaxation of restrictive US immigration policies. Subsequently, the number of Chinese individuals obtaining permanent residency - often through family ties, employment, and political asylum - began to show a significant increase, according to US data.

As China's economy flourished in the early 2000s, the landscape changed: more job opportunities were available in China, and wealthier Chinese had greater means to immigrate or pursue higher education in the United States.

During the past decade under Xi, the country has experienced a heightened suppression of civil society and dissent. China has also tightened its control over religion and faced accusations of serious human rights abuses against Muslim minorities, which it denies.

According to UN data, the number of Chinese asylum seekers in the US and other countries has increased significantly during Xi's leadership, rising from around 25,000 in 2013 to over 120,000 globally in the first half of 2023. Those arriving at the southern US border, including families and not just single adults, are usually seeking asylum as well, as a form of immigration for those fleeing persecution. In the past, Chinese asylum seekers may have applied after entering the US on a tourist visa or through a different method that did not include being detained at a border, immigration specialists note.

The southern border has become a more popular route for people from around the world since the pandemic ended. Individuals who enter illegally must undergo an initial screening to stay in the US and apply for asylum, but the overwhelmed system may present varying circumstances for different migrants.

Congress is anticipated to revise immigration regulations for the border in the near future, potentially resulting in stricter rules, according to experts. Among the overall surge in border crossings, there is a notable increase in Chinese nationals embarking on the perilous journey, despite heightened political tensions between the US and China. This trend is seen as significant and indicative of a new pattern.

The walking route

Starting the journey comes with a significant cost for individuals like Zheng. Those who opt to gather information and navigate their way through South and Central America independently will need to budget at least $5,000, which is over a third of the average annual salary of a Chinese factory worker.

Flights from Asia, often via Chinese passport-friendly countries such as Turkey, into Ecuador, and then funds for accommodations, transportation, and guides for crossing the challenging Darien Gap jungle connecting Colombia and Panama can be included in the journey.

For those who can afford it, there are ways to mitigate some of the risks. CNN discovered various travel options and packages tailored for Chinese travelers seeking to make the trip.

Travelers can pay between $9,000 and $12,000 to smugglers for transportation assistance for the journey north and an optional rainforest crossing, which includes a boat and guide. Those with a budget of at least $20,000 can benefit from additional services such as assistance with obtaining a multiple-entry visa to Japan, allowing visa-free entry to Mexico, and transportation to the border.

It's unclear how many people are taking these curated routes, but the options indicate a variety of economic backgrounds among those heading to the border. CNN gathered information on these routes by interviewing smugglers and others knowledgeable about the industry, as well as from online tutorials.

Chinese travelers who journey overland often follow a popular route from Quito to Tulcan, a small city located on the border with Colombia.

Tulcan residents told CNN that they witness hundreds, possibly thousands, of Chinese migrants crossing from Ecuador to Colombia on a weekly basis. The locals are accommodating the new influx, with one store owner charging a fee to assist the Chinese travelers in obtaining transit visas, enabling them to stay in Colombia legally for a 10-day period.

She cautions that crossing is hazardous: Chinese migrants are now the primary targets for cartels and criminals, she emphasizes - a lesson Zheng learned through personal experience. In mid-December, he passed through Tulcan again and then traveled northeast to the coastal city of Necocli, where boats are ready to transport migrants across the Gulf of Urabá to the outskirts of the Darien Gap, which they must then traverse on foot.

Zheng Shiqing takes a bus from Quito to Tulcan on Ecuador's Colombian border.

Evelio Contreras/CNN

Pictures provided to CNN by Zheng and others in China depict the dangers of the expansive jungle pathway. Guided groups navigate through thick rainforest and along rocky riverbanks, often having to climb steep, slippery areas or use ropes to cross fast-flowing or deep river water.

Wearing orange life jackets and traveling in wooden boats, they navigate the winding river to reach their next destination: temporary migrant camps in Panama. There, they register, receive a free meal, and have a chance to rest.

Panamanian authorities have been transporting people from the southern border camps to the northern ones under the cover of darkness, according to a Panamanian official who spoke to CNN. From there, the journey continues through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico - as long as they can avoid being stopped by police or thieves.

Chen, a 38-year-old mother, and her two children, aged 15 and 11, have endured at least two nights sleeping on the streets in Mexican towns as they strive to reach the American border. For some, the journey into America's final stretch is the most difficult.

She hopes to reunite with her husband, who fled to the US a year ago due to detention and abuse by Chinese authorities for his political activism and church attendance. For safety reasons, she prefers not to disclose her full name.

"Without the option of coming to America, no matter how difficult life becomes, you would only survive in another Chinese city," she told CNN from Tapachula, a town at Mexico's southern border, as she considers whether to pay a smuggler or attempt to bribe their way past immigration police.

Zheng encountered comparable challenges. "In the rainforest, I could push through with sheer determination. But Mexico is a whole different ballgame," he explained to CNN in late December while staying in Tapachula, working on plotting his next steps and securing funds.

American dream?

Days later, after scrounging together thousands more dollars to pay a smuggler to arrange a flight for him, Zheng made it to Tijuana just south of the California border.

After a short period of being detained, he managed to slip through a hole in the border wall and finally arrived in America. Like many others who cross, he waited in a makeshift camp in the southernmost part of the country. As he struggled to keep warm, he couldn't help but think about the next steps: "I need to find work and a place to live," he texted to CNN before being taken to a detention center for processing.

Zheng and countless others face a new level of uncertainty once they make this crossing. After being processed by immigration officials, those permitted to stay and apply for asylum may face years of waiting to present their case before an overburdened judicial system.

During this time, individuals can seek legal employment and relocate within the country, often under the requirement of wearing a government-issued GPS tracker. Case in point is Wang Qun, 34, who was featured in a CNN report documenting his border crossing in June 2022. This waiting period has allowed him to begin building the life he has longed for in America.

After studying English vocabulary related to various components and operations of tractor trailers for several months, Wang successfully passed a licensing exam last autumn. This achievement allowed him to realize a long-held ambition from his home country - to work as a truck driver in America.

Wang Qun, who immigrated to the US in 2022, has gotten a job as a truck driver.

Evelio Contreras/CNN

Wang now makes a good living driving long hauls between California and Florida while also anticipating the arrival of a baby with his partner, Iris. They met in Los Angeles after she made her own journey from China to the United States, just months after Wang did.

Obtaining a favorable decision from the US government in such cases is anything but guaranteed, according to immigration experts, regardless of the applicants' backgrounds. Data from the Department of Homeland Security shows that Chinese nationals have historically been among the most successful groups of asylum seekers in the US, with nearly 13% of those granted asylum in 2022 coming from China. This translated to just over 4,500 people approved that year.

Due to wait times that can stretch for years, the data does not accurately represent the influx of asylum-seekers in 2022.

The individuals now opting for the challenging journey across the southern border may belong to diverse backgrounds, but they share a common motivation - feeling that their "livelihood and various interests being violated" in China, as expressed by Ma Ju, a Chinese-Muslim community leader who was granted asylum in the US in 2019.

He is well-informed, as he operates a shelter in New York City for recent immigrants from China, particularly those who claim to be escaping political or religious persecution. According to him, many of them have to wait for over a year to obtain a work permit in the US, which leaves them trapped in informal employment without labor rights while awaiting their fate.

However, during this period of waiting, there is still optimism.

Reported by Norma Galeana from Los Angeles, and Abel Alvarado and Evelio Contreras from Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama, for CNN.