The United States is preparing to impose visa-related restrictions on China over what Washington describes as delays in accepting the return of undocumented Chinese nationals residing in the US. A senior official in the administration of President Donald Trump confirmed the development to Reuters.
According to the official, Washington is prepared to move forward with the plan if Beijing does not soon resume accepting the return of its undocumented citizens. The administration is also preparing to begin deportation procedures for Chinese nationals living unlawfully in the United States.
The development comes ahead of President Trump’s scheduled visit to Beijing on 14 and 15 May. The visit is considered important for the administration because it is expected to focus on securing trade-related concessions and economic benefits from China that the Republican Party could present to voters ahead of the US congressional elections in November. The potential introduction of visa restrictions has therefore emerged at a sensitive moment in relations between the two countries.
The Trump administration has continued to emphasise immigration enforcement as a major policy priority. President Trump returned to office after pledging to strengthen measures against illegal immigration and increase deportations of undocumented migrants residing in the United States.
US officials say that during the administration of former President Joe Biden, large numbers of Chinese nationals crossed into the country through the southern border on a regular basis. According to US government data cited by the administration, more than 100,000 undocumented Chinese nationals are currently living in the United States. Courts have reportedly issued deportation orders for more than 30,000 of them.
Washington informed Beijing about the matter and, according to the US official, China accepted around 3,000 citizens in several phases during 2025. However, the process has reportedly remained suspended for the past six months. The official stated that China has not accepted the return of a single undocumented citizen during that period.
The administration official told Reuters that Washington had contacted Beijing several times in an effort to resolve the issue, but had not received what it considered an effective response. The official further stated that Chinese authorities had indirectly indicated that they were not willing to provide full cooperation on the matter.
US officials believe that continued non-cooperation could eventually affect the entry of legitimate Chinese visitors into the United States. The official said the administration would wait for a limited period before taking additional action if no progress is made.
Possible measures under consideration include substantial increases in visa fees for Chinese visitors, a higher rate of visa cancellations and, ultimately, broader visa restrictions.
The Chinese embassy in Washington was contacted by Reuters for comment, but embassy officials declined to respond.
| Issue | Reported Information |
|---|---|
| Undocumented Chinese nationals in the US | More than 100,000 |
| Deportation orders issued by US courts | More than 30,000 |
| Chinese nationals accepted back in 2025 | Around 3,000 |
| Returns accepted in past six months | None |
| Potential US measures | Higher visa fees, increased visa cancellations, broader restrictions |
| Trump’s planned Beijing visit | 14–15 May |