As the Manhattan skyline came into view, X. Xiong felt a comforting sense of familiarity and reassurance, “I finally came back,” he told himself. Last August, as an asylum seeker, he had relocated from New York City to South Carolina for a job opportunity. However, in early December — just about a month after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory — he returned to New York City, where he first settled upon arriving in the United States.
“Trump’s election was one of the key reasons I decided to return to New York,” Xiong told Documented in Mandarin. He explained that the incoming administration’s stance on immigration policy made him feel unsafe in a non-sanctuary state like South Carolina. “If I stayed there, my case would have to be transferred, and it might not get approved,” he said. “New York still feels more welcoming to immigrants.”
During his presidential campaign, Trump leaned heavily on promises to crack down on illegal immigration, bolster border enforcement, and launch what he described as the “largest deportation operation in U.S. history,” targeting millions of undocumented immigrants. While experts have pointed out that such plans face significant practical and legal challenges, the rhetoric — amplified by misinformation and rumors — has sown fear among many immigrants, including asylum seekers.
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“Abide by the law and leave it to fate” — this phrase surfaced repeatedly in interviews with Chinese asylum seekers when discussing their plans following Trump’s victory. They told Documented that the only certainty in their lives right now is the uncertainty of the future. As asylum seekers, they said their options are severely limited. For safety reasons, they all requested to be identified only by the initials of their names or partial names.
The other shoe
Some, like Xiong, have chosen to relocate from other states to places like New York or California, where they feel safer. Others remain anxiously in place, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Still, a segment holds onto hope, believing that the democratic and legal systems of the United States will prevent Trump from “changing the laws overnight” to carry out his deportation operation.
For Xiong, 33, both his move to South Carolina for work last August and his return to New York City in December were decisions made out of necessity.
Due to the challenges he faced in China as a result of his homosexuality and the traumatic experiences he endured in Wuhan during the pandemic, Xiong left China in September 2023.
He arrived in the U.S. at the end of October 2023 after an arduous journey on foot through Central and South America. Before heading to South Carolina, he had spent most of his time in New York City and traveled to Los Angeles in search of job opportunities. In New York, his limited English skills and the strained resources of local Chinese communities — overwhelmed by the growing influx of migrants — left him with few options. Through an employment agency in Flushing, he was introduced to a labor contractor and eventually secured a job at a solar panel factory in South Carolina.
At the factory, Xiong and other Chinese asylum seekers from across the country faced challenging conditions. They worked grueling night shifts and earned just $14 an hour. But Xiong did not complain. He said that simply being able to support himself and establish a foothold in the United States by his “own hands” felt like a good start. However, after Trump’s election, Xiong started considering leaving South Carolina. And when a friend in New York informed him about a metal equipment factory in Long Island that was hiring and could provide tax documentation, Xiong returned to New York without any hesitation. “I hope to find legitimate work and stay here legally by following the rules,” he said.
Limited options
Jv Ma, an advocate for the Chinese Muslim community, said that in the period shortly after Trump’s election, he observed a growing sense of fear among New York City’s Chinese immigrants. Although he told many asylum seekers not to panic and that Trump’s deportation plan faced difficulties in implementation, “I still saw people returning to New York from Indiana, Ohio and other states.”
Among them is J. Guo, a Chinese Muslim from Guangzhou. Guo entered the U.S. in January 2020 on a tourist visa before applying for asylum. Prior to Trump’s election, Guo spent most of his time in Virginia working in the restaurant industry while frequently traveling between Virginia and New York. “I was thinking about settling in Virginia permanently at some point,” Guo said.
However, since last November, Guo has only returned to Virginia once. “I like Virginia a lot, but I’m afraid to move there now. Trump’s immigration policies and the attitudes of some Americans toward new immigrants make me feel uneasy,” he said in Mandarin. He also noted that some restaurant owners hesitate to hire asylum seekers, even those with valid work permits. “They’ve heard rumors that employers connected to asylum seekers might also face deportation,” he explained.
Guo said he is not alone in taking action out of concern over Trump. “Quite a few people around me have returned to New York or California. I’ve heard of at least ten cases,” he noted. Guo mentioned that some had been living in Georgia or Florida but decided to move back to Los Angeles or New York City, driven by fears of the measures Trump is expected to implement — despite the challenges of fewer resources and limited job opportunities in these areas.
“For those in our situation, New York and California are really the only options left. There are no other choices,” Guo said. While he is unsure of the extent to which Trump will be able to implement his promised measures, Guo noted that the uncertainty has already caused significant psychological distress within the immigrant community, “everyone is worried,” said Guo.
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He worries that with Trump in power, New York City’s stance on immigration might shift, and fears that large-scale deportation efforts could lead to a humanitarian crisis, mentioning that the history of internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II could repeat itself. “I am genuinely worried that innocent people will be hurt because you can’t be sure that every officer understands and obeys the law. And not just asylum seekers like us, but even some Chinese immigrants who have obtained green cards or citizenship could be targeted by White supremacist law enforcement officers.”
“When Trump was first elected, I was consumed by fear. One night, I even woke up from a nightmare about being detained,” recalled J. Qian, an asylum seeker from Shanghai. Following the election on November 6, rumors about immigration enforcement began circulating in WeChat groups created by asylum seekers.
“Some said interstate buses might be inspected, others claimed ICE agents were arresting people on the streets of Flushing, and there was talk that those with criminal records would be the first to be deported,” Qian said, adding that he often found it difficult to distinguish fact from misinformation.
“Will Trump follow the law, or will he impose sweeping measures? We’re afraid he might make unimaginable decisions,” Qian said. Yet, he admitted he had no contingency plan for potential mass deportations. “If the worst happens, it’s beyond my control. ‘The cart will find its way around the hill when it gets there,’” he said, referencing a Chinese saying that things will work out eventually or solutions will present themselves when the time comes.
Polarized attitudes
While some asylum seekers share Qian’s anxiety, others have adopted a wait-and-see approach or remain cautiously optimistic. “A lot of people talked about moving back to New York, but in reality, not many have done so,” said Mill C., another Chinese asylum seeker who is a restaurant worker in NYC.
After Trump’s victory, Mill consulted people who work in government agencies and immigration lawyers about the potential impact of Trump’s administration’s policies. “The general advice I got was to stay calm,” he said. He was reassured that, while the president wields great executive power, actions must still be taken within the confines of the law. “As long as you follow the law, work hard, pay taxes, and don’t break the rules, there’s no need to worry too much,” Mill said.
X. Li, another asylum seeker in New York, expressed a similar perspective. “Everyone is waiting [for what’s going to happen], but America is governed by the rule of law. There’s no need to be overly concerned,” he said. Li believes the U.S. is fundamentally different from China in that presidential powers are limited and subject to checks and balances. However, he acknowledged that Trump’s approach undermines the foundations of American democracy and the rule of law. “It feels like he’s trying to dismantle the justice system and centralize power, like starting a ‘Cultural Revolution in America.’”
“Even if America is a paradise, it’s not ours”
For Guo, another asylum seeker, the shift in U.S. immigration policy is frustrating. He criticized Trump’s administration for portraying Chinese asylum seekers as solely economically motivated individuals without legitimate claims. “Many of them have genuine reasons for seeking asylum. No one willingly leaves their home to risk their lives crossing through over a dozen countries in South America to reach the U.S.,” Guo said.
He also found it baffling that Trump’s team depicts Chinese asylum seekers as a group of “military-aged men” posing a threat to national security. “The first generation of those who come here are here to work hard. They contribute to the labor force,” he said.
Mill C. agreed, highlighting the grueling work conditions many asylum seekers endure. “I work 12-hour shifts in a restaurant in Flushing. No local citizen wants to take these jobs. Chinese and Mexican migrants do the hardest work,” he said. Mill explained that many asylum seekers arrive in the U.S. with no English skills, no family, and no connections. “We’re not chasing the dream of making a fortune here. For many of us, survival in China became impossible. Some fled political persecution, others simply had no way out.”
“Even if America is a paradise, it’s not ours,” Mill said. When asked about his plans if faced with deportation, he responded firmly, “I will defend my rights through legal means. I’ll hire a lawyer and appeal. The law applies equally to everyone, and that’s the only way I can protect myself.”
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