GOP Congressman Sounds Alarm On Illegal Chinese Immigrants

(USNewsMag.com) – Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida is demanding answers about over two dozen illegal immigrants from China who came ashore in his district in southern Florida last week.

Last week, Florida officials announced that 17 illegal Chinese immigrants and three Ecuadorian immigrants were caught by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and then taken into custody by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The three immigrants from Ecuador were men; 11 of the Chinese immigrants were also men, and six of them were women.

Gimenez said he’s not surprised by the incident, considering the failing border policies of the federal government. “We don’t know why they’re here,” or their destination or purpose, the Congressman said last Friday on Fox News. Gimenez, who is a member of both the China and Homeland Security select committees, said that “all Americans” should be concerned “as the world becomes less and less safe” under the current administration.

According to Gimenez, there’s also “a growing presence” of Chinese nationals in the Bahamas, in Cuba, “and around central South America.” Gimenez said that having these “mostly men” or people of military age “trying to get into” the country “worries” him. He said he intends to find out where they left off, learn more about their backgrounds, and understand their intentions.

The immigrants landed on Key Largo, an island in the Florida Keys in the northern part of the archipelago closest to the continental US. Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department, said the incident “shows how an open border” permits people “from enemy nations” to come into the country and that President Biden and his administration have “completely failed” to uphold border security.

Congress was recently asked by the White House to approve a giant supplemental funding package of $105 billion, $14 billion of which is set to go toward securing the southern border, while large portions comprise aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Gimenez said throwing money at the problem is useless if there aren’t any policy changes and an adequate plan for the funds.