In the early hours of a recent Friday, in New York City's bustling Flushing neighborhood, Wang Gang, a 36-year-old Chinese immigrant, joined a group of men hoping for day jobs. As they gathered near a Chinese bakery and pharmacy, a potential employer arrived. Despite waiting for two more hours, Wang had no luck finding work, marking another day without employment since his illegal border crossing from Wuhan, China, in February, seeking better financial opportunities.
The daily challenges faced by Chinese immigrants in Flushing contrast sharply with the portrayal by former President Donald Trump and some Republicans. They depict Chinese immigrants as a coordinated group of "military-age" men aiming to build an "army" to attack America. Trump has repeatedly alluded to "fighting-age" or "military-age" Chinese men, suggesting they were forming a migrant "army," a narrative amplified in conservative media and social platforms.
However, such claims are refuted by the immigrants themselves. Wang dismissed the idea, stating that the immigrants he met had no such intentions.
They came to the U.S. to earn money, not to engage in military activities. Many immigrants in Flushing shared similar sentiments, revealing they left China to escape poverty, financial losses from the pandemic, or repression in their home country.
Despite U.S. intelligence concerns about China's authoritarian government, there is no evidence to support claims that Chinese migrants are entering the U.S. to engage in hostile activities. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell described them as "economic migrants." While crimes by Chinese immigrants have occurred, including breaching a military base, there is no basis for the assertion that these immigrants pose a military threat to the U.S.
China has expressed opposition to illegal immigration, arresting some attempting to leave. Social media posts advising illegal entry into the U.S. have been censored in China, replaced with warnings about the journey's dangers and racial discrimination in the U.S.
Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump campaign, raised concerns about unchecked entry of military-age Chinese men, suggesting a potential threat. However, these claims lack evidence and contribute to harmful stereotypes, fueling discrimination and violence against Asian Americans.
In reality, Chinese migrants, like 36-year-old Chen Wang from Fujian province, came to the U.S. seeking freedom. Chen, who lives in a tent in the woods, hopes for legal status to travel freely and live simply. His story, along with others like Li Kai, highlights the diverse reasons Chinese immigrants come to America, aiming for a better life, not military action.