The United States is weighing tougher visa restrictions on China over what officials say is Beijing’s reluctance to take back its citizens living illegally in the country.
A senior official in the administration of Donald Trump told Reuters that China has slowed cooperation on repatriation efforts in recent months.
Washington now warns it could tighten travel rules for Chinese nationals if there’s no change.
The issue is expected to feature prominently during Trump’s upcoming visit to Beijing on May 14–15, where he is scheduled to meet Xi Jinping.
Alongside trade talks, deportations are likely to be a key point of discussion.
Since returning to office, Trump has pushed a hardline immigration agenda, making deportations a central policy.
His administration has already threatened tariffs and sanctions against countries that refuse to accept their citizens back, and China now appears to be in focus.
According to the U.S. official, China initially agreed to accept verified nationals and did take in about 3,000 deportees in early 2025.
But cooperation has since dropped off.
Washington argues that Beijing is failing to meet its international obligations by not moving faster to receive those ordered to leave the U.S.
If the situation doesn’t improve, the U.S. is considering stricter measures.
These could include higher financial requirements for visa applicants, more visa denials, and tighter entry restrictions at the border.
At the center of the dispute are tens of thousands of Chinese nationals in the U.S. without legal status.
Officials say more than 100,000 are undocumented, with over 30,000 already issued final deportation orders.
A smaller number are currently in detention awaiting removal.
U.S. authorities want China to speed up the issuance of travel documents and approve charter flights carrying deportees.
Under American law, countries that refuse to cooperate can face visa sanctions.
Beijing has previously said it opposes illegal migration but insists that repatriation takes time and requires proper verification.
It has also described migration as a global issue that needs cooperation between nations.
Behind the scenes, U.S. officials believe the slow pace may be deliberate, possibly used as leverage in broader diplomatic negotiations.
With Trump’s visit approaching, the standoff over deportations is shaping up to be another pressure point in already complex U.S.–China relations.
