Part 11/15:

Legal issues are a significant concern. For example, Chinese migrants who arrive in the U.S. after crossing the border are often subjected to policies that have become more restrictive since May 11, 2023. New regulations stipulate that migrants who entered illegally after this date are unlikely to qualify for asylum or green cards, with some lawyers bluntly stating that their cases are futile under current laws.

One migrant describes how US immigration officials repeatedly call him for questioning without providing any concrete support or documents, emphasizing the difficulty sizable legal and bureaucratic barriers pose. Many who arrive are detained, deported, or left in limbo, with some families separated or unable to reunite in the US.