Migrants from China emerge from thick brush after being smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 7, 2023. The difficulty of obtaining U.S. visas and the economic after-shocks of China’s COVID lockdowns have led to a sharp increase in Chinese nationals presenting at the U.S.-Mexico border – and some of those arrivals learned about how to come online, migrants, immigration experts, attorneys and current and former U.S. officials, told Reuters. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Migrants from China disembark from the motorized boat they used to cross the Rio Grande river into the U.S. from Mexico and are pointed towards the town cemetery in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. Over the course of three weeks photographing and reporting from a remote border stretch in southeastern Texas, Reuters witnessed hundreds of Chinese migrants crossing into the United States and interviewed more than two dozen in Mandarin. All of those interviewed said they got the idea to take the land route to the United States on social media and drew on influencers, private groups and comments to plan their trips. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Migrants from China navigate thick brush and rugged terrain while searching for law enforcement in order to surrender, after being smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Over the course of three weeks photographing and reporting from a remote border stretch in southeastern Texas, Reuters witnessed hundreds of Chinese migrants crossing into the United States and interviewed more than two dozen in Mandarin. All of those interviewed said they got the idea to take the land route to the United States on social media and drew on influencers, private groups and comments to plan their trips. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

A five-year-old migrant boy from China chases his brother down a trail after he and his family crossed the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Migrant children from China surrender to Border Patrol agents after they and their families were smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

A migrant man from China asks to keep his Bible after being directed to place his valuables in a plastic bag by Border Patrol agents, after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. Over the course of three weeks photographing and reporting from a remote border stretch in southeastern Texas, Reuters witnessed hundreds of Chinese migrants crossing into the United States and interviewed more than two dozen in Mandarin. Some wore crosses and carried Chinese-language bibles, saying they were Christians who felt they could not freely practice their religion at home. China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in recent years critics including the U.S. government say Beijing has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist party. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Border Patrol agents hand out trash bags to the arriving migrants from China to use against rain and cold wind as they wait for transport to a processing center next to a cemetery after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

A migrant boy from China passes through a gate on private property after being smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 4, 2023. Over the course of three weeks photographing and reporting from a remote border stretch in southeastern Texas, Reuters witnessed hundreds of Chinese migrants crossing into the United States and interviewed more than two dozen in Mandarin. All of those interviewed said they got the idea to take the land route to the United States on social media and drew on influencers, private groups and comments to plan their trips. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

A Border Patrol agent searches a migrant man from China as he surrenders after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Border Patrol agents stand guard over migrants from China as they wait for transportation for the migrants in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A migrant man from China identifies himself to a Border Patrol agent after surrendering with a group which was smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 4, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

A boat carrying migrants from China crosses the Rio Grande river into the U.S. from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 6, 2023. Over the course of three weeks photographing and reporting from a remote border stretch in southeastern Texas, Reuters witnessed hundreds of Chinese migrants crossing into the United States and interviewed more than two dozen in Mandarin. All of those interviewed said they got the idea to take the land route to the United States on social media and drew on influencers, private groups and comments to plan their trips. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Migrants from China ride in a motorized boat along the Rio Grande river searching for a drop-off point on the U.S. side of the river as they navigate into the U.S. from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. The difficulty of obtaining U.S. visas and the economic after-shocks of China’s COVID lockdowns have led to a sharp increase in Chinese nationals presenting at the U.S.-Mexico border – and some of those arrivals learned about how to come online, migrants, immigration experts, attorneys and current and former U.S. officials, told Reuters. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Mexico is visible on the far side of the Rio Grande river as migrants from China walk along a dirt road on the U.S. side looking to surrender to Border Patrol agents in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 4, 2023. The difficulty of obtaining U.S. visas and the economic after-shocks of China’s COVID lockdowns have led to a sharp increase in Chinese nationals presenting at the U.S.-Mexico border – and some of those arrivals learned about how to come online, migrants, immigration experts, attorneys and current and former U.S. officials, told Reuters. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A member of the Texas Army National Guard asks a migrant from China to come out of his hiding place after the man and others were smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A member of the Texas Army National Guard helps a migrant mother and daughter from China cross over a fence after the group was smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Migrants from Central America and China are escorted by members of the Texas Army National Guard after the group was smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Migrants from Central America and China are escorted by members of the Texas Army National Guard as they walk to a staging point past farmland after crossing the Rio Grande river into the U.S. from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. The difficulty of obtaining U.S. visas and the economic after-shocks of China’s COVID lockdowns have led to a sharp increase in Chinese nationals presenting at the U.S.-Mexico border – and some of those arrivals learned about how to come online, migrants, immigration experts, attorneys and current and former U.S. officials, told Reuters. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

An empty pack of cigarettes lies along a dirt trail along the U.S. Mexico border which is used by migrants from China in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Over the course of three weeks photographing and reporting from a remote border stretch in southeastern Texas, Reuters witnessed hundreds of Chinese migrants crossing into the United States and interviewed more than two dozen in Mandarin. All of those interviewed said they got the idea to take the land route to the United States on social media and drew on influencers, private groups and comments to plan their trips. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A resident directs a Border Patrol agent towards the general direction where she saw a group of migrants from China who were smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 2, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A group of migrants from China walks past residences while looking to surrender to Border Patrol agents in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 4, 2023. The difficulty of obtaining U.S. visas and the economic after-shocks of China’s COVID lockdowns have led to a sharp increase in Chinese nationals presenting at the U.S.-Mexico border – and some of those arrivals learned about how to come online, migrants, immigration experts, attorneys and current and former U.S. officials, told Reuters. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Migrants from China, who were smuggled across the Rio Grande river from Mexico, sit outside a residence after surrendering to a Starr County police officer and a Border Patrol agent in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 4, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A Border Patrol agent holds a hand-made sign reading "Democracy, Freedom" in Chinese as migrants from China surrender to agents after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 2, 2023. A migrant had held up the sign while he was surrendering. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A migrant man from China holds his and his wife's possessions in plastic bags following his surrender to Border Patrol agents after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A migrant man from China wears a cross necklace while surrendering to Border Patrol agents after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. Over the course of three weeks photographing and reporting from a remote border stretch in southeastern Texas, Reuters witnessed hundreds of Chinese migrants crossing into the United States and interviewed more than two dozen in Mandarin. Some wore crosses and carried Chinese-language bibles, saying they were Christians who felt they could not freely practice their religion at home. China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in recent years critics including the U.S. government say Beijing has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist party. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Border Patrol vehicles crowd around a group of migrants from China at a gathering point near a local cemetery, after being smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 2, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A family of migrants from China, who wished to stay unidentified, sit in a transportation vehicle after surrendering to Border Patrol agents in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 7, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Migrants from China gather after their surrender to Border Patrol agents after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A migrant grandmother from China assists in changing a three-month-old baby's diaper at a Border Patrol staging area after dozens of people were smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 1, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A migrant woman from China attends to her daughter at a Border Patrol staging area after dozens of people were smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 1, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A migrant man from China waits to board a Customs and Border Protection transport vehicle after he and dozens of others were smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 1, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A migrant woman from China places her belongings in a plastic bag for Border Patrol agents after being smuggled across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 3, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A Border Patrol agent photographs a migrant man from China after the group surrendered to Border Patrol agents after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 10, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Migrants from China line up alongside a Border Patrol vehicle to receive further instructions about processing in Fronton, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2023. Apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border reached more than 6,500 in the six months since October 2022, the highest on record and a more than 15-fold increase over the same period a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data. While just a sliver of the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving at the southwest border, Chinese people were the fastest growing demographic in those six months, CBP data show. REUTERS/Staff SEARCH "U.S. CHINA MIGRATION" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.