Repatriated due to group chat information! Chinese students studying abroad in the United States have repeatedly encountered obstacles from the US, and their phones have been confiscated
China Overseas Chinese Network, August 23 (Xinhua) - The "Study Abroad Voice" column of China Overseas Chinese Network has recently received feedback from some students studying in the United States, sharing their experiences of being hindered by the US during their entry into the United States and studying there, which has affected their academic performance.
Entry subject to questioning and threats
Three Chinese international students described their recent situation when entering the United States with valid US visas: they were detained and interrogated for a long time by personnel from the US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security. In the absence of factual evidence and valid permits, American personnel detained electronic products such as computers and mobile phones of the parties involved and demanded power on passwords. They repeatedly entangled whether the parties involved had a background in the Communist Party of China and the military, and ultimately refused entry to three Chinese international students and induced them to sign visa waiver documents. The international students involved have reported that the questioning methods used by the US are malicious and illegal, and the questions raised are full of inducement and threat.
Mobile phone searched
Another Chinese international student who is pursuing a doctoral degree in electrical engineering in the United States stated that he was interrogated by US law enforcement for up to 12 hours. The US side started from the identity of their parents as farmers and kept pestering them about the source of their study abroad funds. They searched their phones and seized photos related to electrical engineering and the military interests of the parties involved, suspected them of being military personnel, and went to the US to steal intelligence. The US also refused the request for translation from the parties involved and did not inform them of their right to contact the Chinese Consulate in the US and external personnel.
Repatriated due to group chat and visa application information
A student studying abroad was suspected by US law enforcement officers of having connections with the Wagner Group and was deported due to information related to the Ukrainian crisis in their social media group chat. Another student studying abroad was suspected by US law enforcement officers of concealing work experience and confusing customs clearance due to using pinyin to fill in their former workplace name in visa application materials, and was deported back to their country on the grounds that the visa application materials did not match the actual situation.
Accused of auditing courses
Furthermore, a Chinese student studying abroad has recently been prosecuted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Presidential Decree No. 10043, accusing him of "intentionally concealing military education experience" and constituting "visa fraud", with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. And the fact is, the international student attended several classes that the US deemed "sensitive", so he was falsely accused. Not only that, the Federal Bureau of Investigation also stole the application materials of the international students involved as evidence, resulting in serious infringement of their personal privacy.
The US suppresses Chinese international students and creates a "cold cicada effect"
Officials engaged in study abroad services point out that the United States claims to be open, inclusive, and academic freedom, but politicizes and weaponizes academic research, and abuses the concept of "national security" to suppress and persecute Chinese students studying abroad. During US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China this year, China and the United States reached a consensus on expanding people to people and cultural exchanges. However, while the United States said it would welcome more Chinese students to the United States, it continued to suppress Chinese students. The "tolerance" and "freedom" of the United States is false, and it is true to try to contain China by suppressing foreign students. The actions of the United States will undoubtedly have a "cold cicada effect" both inside and outside the United States. Chinese students studying in the United States should carefully evaluate the risks and think twice before taking action.
