Illegal Chinese Immigration into the United States: A Preliminary Factor Analysis

Abstract

Since August 1991, a new type of international criminal activity, using oceangoing ships, has appeared. Illegal Chinese immigrants are entering various countries throughout the world, including the United States. This new wave of illegal global migration has promoted several social problems in the countries and areas affected: unauthorized employment, substandard housing, political asylum schemes, and related crimes such as murder, kidnapping, ganging, and prostitution. This article will analyze some of the causal factors that lead to the situation. Furthermore, a theoretical explanation of the “demand and supply/pull and push” model will be discussed. Finally, some countermeasures are offered as policy recommendations to combat or curtail this worldwide smuggling operation. Based on a content analysis and personal interviews with illegal Chinese immigrants, the current article suggests that this new crime phenomenon involves transnational criminal groups. It results from the demand for cheap labor in Chinatowns in the United States, the abundant labor supply in China’s coastal regions, and the huge profit from such smuggling activities.