Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, May 5: The United States has warned China of potential travel restrictions if it does not step up efforts to repatriate its nationals staying illegally in the country, a senior Trump administration official said.

The warning comes ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing on May 14–15, where immigration and deportation issues are expected to be key points of discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to the official, China has reduced cooperation in recent months after initially accepting around 3,000 deportees in early 2025. The US alleges that Beijing is not fully complying with requests to take back its citizens, calling it a violation of international obligations.

Washington has indicated it may impose stricter measures, including higher visa application bonds, visa denials, and tighter border controls for Chinese nationals if cooperation does not improve.

The issue is part of Trump’s broader hardline immigration policy, which includes increased deportations and sanctions on countries that refuse to accept their citizens back. The administration estimates that over 100,000 undocumented Chinese nationals are currently in the US, with more than 30,000 facing final deportation orders.

China has maintained that repatriation requires verification and time, and has described illegal migration as a global issue requiring cooperation between nations.

The development adds another layer of tension ahead of Trump’s Beijing visit, where trade negotiations and geopolitical concerns are also expected to dominate talks.