US Authorities Interrogate Chinese Student for Extended Periods Before Repatriation, Despite Altered Trump Policies

In a shocking turn of events, a 22-year-old Chinese philosophy student named Gu was deported from the United States after arriving at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Gu, who was scheduled to study at the University of Houston, was kept in a cold waiting room for extended periods, with the room temperature set low and lit around the clock.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted a 10-hour interrogation, focusing on Gu's ties to the Chinese Communist Party and the China Scholarship Council. It's important to note that Gu's parents are members of the Chinese Communist Party, but he is not. The China Scholarship Council came up in Gu's chat history during the interrogation.

This incident is one of an unknown number of Chinese students with valid visas who have been interrogated or sent back to China after arrival. The Chinese Embassy has received reports of more than 10 Chinese students and scholars facing similar treatment. The repatriation of these students was done under the pretext of "so-called 'visa issues' or 'might endanger U.S. national security'."

The U.S. agency responsible for preventing the entry of students from the People's Republic of China is primarily the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Visa issuance and enforcement also involve the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Foreign Service).

Some U.S. officials and lawmakers have expressed suspicions about Chinese students studying advanced technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence, and their possible links to the Chinese government and military. However, it's worth mentioning that Gu did not receive money from the Chinese government.

The US administration has shown uncertainty in its policies towards Chinese students, shifting from a plan to revoke visas to welcoming them. Despite this, Gu was told he was to be deported, with no specific reason given. As a result, his academic career dreams have been halted, and he is banned from returning to the United States for five years.

The Chinese Embassy has stated that the US has frequently carried out discriminatory, politically driven, and selective law enforcement against Chinese students and scholars, causing physical and mental harm, financial losses, and disruptions to their careers. Gu is considering appealing the deportation decision, but it might take years and cost thousands of dollars.

This incident has caused strong protests from Beijing, highlighting the ongoing tension between the two nations regarding the treatment of Chinese students in the United States.

US Authorities Interrogate Chinese Student for Extended Periods Before Repatriation, Despite Altered Trump Policies