The Dual Roles of ICTs in Post-COVID Undocumented Chinese Migration to the U.S.

• In Event: 30625 - New Frontiers in International Migration

Abstract

In FY2023, more than 24,000 Chinese nationals were apprehended at the southwest border of the United States. Drawing on interviews and digital ethnography, this paper finds that post-COVID undocumented Chinese immigrants rely on information and communication technologies (ICTs) rather than traditional migrant networks to mediate and facilitate international movements. This case study challenges the traditional migrant networks theory, which assumes the indispensable role of social networks in mediating and facilitating migration. My paper shows that ICTs play a similarly crucial role as migrant networks do for undocumented Chinese immigrants. ICT use makes the migration process more accessible, affordable, and manageable by providing migrants with access to relevant information, resources, and social networks. However, ICTs fall short in offering the same level of tangible and intangible support as traditional migrant networks do, such as housing and job opportunities upon arrival. Instead, online migration-related narratives often emphasize success stories of unauthorized border crossings and obscure the physical, emotional, legal, and financial tolls of undocumented migration. These narratives create unrealistic expectations and leave undocumented Chinese immigrants vulnerable to unforeseen challenges during and after their migration journeys. These findings contribute to the existing literature on undocumented Chinese migration to the U.S. and the digital mediation of migration.

Author

• Shasha Lin, University of Heidelberg