On Wednesday, February 5th, the United States Coast Guard stated that they had arrested a mainland Chinese immigrant who was attempting to illegally enter the United States by using a surfboard in the waters off the Bahamas.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) took to social media on that Wednesday to announce that the Cutter Seahorse intercepted a Chinese immigrant trying to enter the US using a surfboard approximately 25 miles off Freeport, Bahamas.
Videos and photos released by the US Coast Guard depicted a man kneeling on two stacked boards, propelling himself forward with a paddle in the vast sea. The front end of the surfboard was tied with a black suitcase and other belongings.
The unidentified Chinese citizen was promptly returned to the Bahamas on the same day by the US Coast Guard.
This incident is yet another example of attempts to enter the United States through illegal migration from the Caribbean island nation of the Bahamas. The Bahamas is about 290 kilometers away from Florida, with a population of approximately 380,000 people.
Just a week prior, 26 Chinese illegal immigrants were arrested upon reaching Coral Gables, Florida.
According to Fox News, authorities stated that these immigrants first arrived in the waters near the Bahamas by boat. Chief Hudak Jr. of the Coral Gables Police Department mentioned that they likely arrived through a canal leading to a private yacht marina in a remote area at the southern end of Coral Gables.
Two suspected smugglers along with the 26 Chinese immigrants, which included 9 females and 17 males, have been detained, carrying firearms.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in illegal immigrants from mainland China, making them one of the fastest-growing groups of illegal entrants into the United States.
As the number of illegal immigrants entering from China continues to rise, US lawmakers have warned about the expanding influence of the Chinese Communist Party in Central and South America, as well as the disorderly competition in its technology industry posing threats to US national security.
President Trump has implemented stricter immigration policies since taking office. Recently, he signed an executive order suspending asylum for migrants illegally entering the southern US border.
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) broadened the scope of expedited removal to include immigrants who cannot prove they have been continuously living in the US for at least two years. This enforcement measure allows for a quick deportation of immigrants who entered the US illegally, without the need for immigration court hearings or other legal processes.
Data from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicate that as of November last year, 37,908 Chinese citizens were on the list for potential deportation without having been detained.