Migrants from China Face Uncertainty as Trump's Policies Reshape American Dream

As Chinese migrants adapt to life in the US, many find their hopes dwindling under President Trump's immigration policies, uncertain legal status, and rising tensions between the US and China.

Pan, a man in his fifties hailing from Jiangxi province, China, currently works in a Chinese restaurant in Barstow, California, after embarking on a treacherous journey to the US via Latin America two years ago. In early 2023, he made the momentous decision to leave China, convinced that his life there was becoming untenable. His dreams of a freer society and a dignified life drew him to America, particularly after his home was demolished by government action to make way for real estate projects.

Similar to many others in his situation, Pan's journey was arduous, spanning thousands of miles through jungles and crossing borders. Unfortunately, upon his arrival, he and others like him found themselves isolated by language barriers and mired in debt, navigating an overwhelming immigration bureaucracy while making a living through gig work. As low hopes coexist with his struggle for asylum, the looming presence of President Donald Trump's political return creates a palpable sense of uncertainty for migrants like Pan.

Pan's life is now marked by a daily routine of working and video-calling his family back in China, all while pursuing a quiet sense of freedom that came at a high cost. From casual conversations with fellow migrants to joining anti-government protests, Pan tries to make his voice heard. On the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, he participated in demonstrations outside the Chinese consulate, reclaiming his voice in a country that once stifled it.

Nonetheless, the rising instability under Trump's administration, characterized by increased ICE raids and harsh immigration policies, has instilled a sense of fear and anxiety among the migrant community. Many hold Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) but are still not granted asylum status, leaving them vulnerable to the impacts of enforcement actions targeting undocumented immigrants.

Kevin, another migrant from Fujian province, voiced his growing disillusionment with the American dream he once aspired to. He echoed the sentiments of uncertainty surrounding the ongoing political environment, asserting that America feels increasingly similar to China under the pressures of authoritarian governance.

The common thread among these migrants is the harrowing journey that brought them together. Yet two years later, emotional undercurrents reveal a deeper struggle for acceptance and security in a climate colored by mistrust. They feel caught between two worlds, unwanted by Beijing and mistrusted in their new home.

Pan's quiet resolve stands out amid the bubbling concern all around him. He reflects on the uncertain future that awaits him in the US, and what returning to China would mean - a confrontation with a past he sought to escape. "That thought," he says, "is unbearable," underscoring the tenacious spirit that propels him forward despite the odds stacked against him.