Goodbye, My Motherland: the Pursuit of Dignity through the newest surge of Undocumented Chinese Immigrants

• In Event: 20862 - Section on International Migration Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Migration and Legal Status

Abstract

Since 2022, most major media outlets have prominently covered the massive surge of Chinese citizens entering the US, particularly those who have traveled through the treacherous Darién Gap to reach the US-Mexico border. According to US Customs and Border Protection, the number of Chinese nationals crossing the US-Mexico border in 2023 exceeded twice the total recorded over the past decade. Drawing from qualitative content analysis of 30 articles from reputable news outlets, this paper begins the exploration of understanding the lived experiences of these newly arrived immigrants, with a specific focus on their motivations for immigration, social media’s impact on immigration strategies, and settlement experiences, particularly in Los Angeles County. Rather than centering on how the media frames these undocumented Chinese immigrants, I emphasize on the storytelling aspects within these media outlets, shedding light on the ways these immigrants’ struggles, and resilience are portrayed and understood in the public discourse. This paper offers a new perspective on the shifting immigration dynamics and the media’s role in shaping public perceptions of contemporary immigration in the US.

Author

• Jia-Lin Liu, California State University-Los Angeles