China steps up arrests, deportations of undocumented Myanmar workers in border region

Chinese authorities have intensified a campaign to identify, detain, and deport undocumented Myanmar migrant workers in the border cities of Ruili and Jiegao in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, according to migrant workers, residents, and labour advocates, as Beijing tightens enforcement of immigration rules along its frontier with Myanmar. Myanmar workers in Ruili said police operations began in mid-June, with officers conducting checks at factories, residential neighbourhoods, and major intersections. Workers without valid residence documents are reportedly being detained and transferred to police stations before being moved to detention facilities. “If you can’t show your residence permit, they take you straight to the police station,” said one Myanmar worker in Ruili, who asked not to be identified. “Right now, migrant workers are too afraid to even step out of their rooms.” Several workers said the heightened enforcement has left undocumented migrants effectively confined indoors, fearing arrest if they leave their workplaces or accommodations. A Myanmar worker in nearby Jiegao said some factories and farms linked to well-connected Chinese business owners appear to have avoided police raids, although workers inside those facilities remain vulnerable if they leave the premises. “The police don’t enter the factories to arrest them,” said the worker, who has been employed in Jiegao for nearly a year. “But those workers can’t go outside either. If they step out and run into Chinese police, the employer won’t bail them out. They just get arrested.” Myanmar Now was unable to ascertain the number of Myanmar nationals currently being held by Chinese authorities or how many have been deported. Chinese pressure The latest enforcement comes amid recent reports of Myanmar workers at a garment factory in Wanding, within the Ruili area, being arrested after their Chinese employer notified authorities following a labour dispute in which the workers resigned. The Myanmar regime has also come under increased pressure from China to curb unauthorised cross-border migration. During a parliamentary session in Naypyitaw on June 25, the junta-appointed immigration minister said Chinese officials had expressed concern over large numbers of Myanmar nationals remaining in China after overstaying border permits. Under a 1997 border agreement between the two countries, residents of Myanmar’s Muse border district can enter Ruili for up to six nights and seven days without a passport or visa by using a border pass. Residents from other parts of Myanmar may obtain temporary border passes for limited travel. The permits are intended for medical treatment and social visits and do not authorise employment. Border passes issued to Muse residents allow multiple crossings for one year, while temporary border passes are valid for a single entry. According to the immigration minister, Chinese authorities estimate that more than 50,000 Myanmar citizens holding Muse-issued border passes are currently living and working illegally in China after overstaying the permitted duration. Authorities have not disclosed how many additional migrants may be residing in China without documentation or with expired temporary permits. Chinese authorities have also publicised penalties for immigration violations. On July 1, the Chinese state-affiliated Myanmar-language news outlet Pauk Phaw published details of fines and other punishments for illegal entry, employment and residence. The published notice said illegal employment carries fines ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 yuan (about US$700 to $2,800), while illegal residence can result in fines of up to 10,000 yuan. Illegal entry is also punishable by fines of up to 10,000 yuan. Offenders can be held for up to 10 days, deported, and banned from reentry. Vulnerable to deception Despite the risks, many Myanmar nationals continue seeking work in China amid worsening economic conditions and limited employment opportunities at home following the military’s 2021 takeover. Residents of Muse said obtaining temporary border passes has become increasingly difficult, particularly for young adults eligible for military service under the Myanmar regime’s conscription law. This has pushed many job seekers toward irregular border crossings because Chinese employers typically seek younger workers, the residents said. Labour brokers continue recruiting workers for factories and farms in China by offering to cover travel and documentation costs upfront, according to residents and labour advocates. The costs are later deducted from workers’ wages, while some brokers also arrange unauthorised border crossings for additional fees. Labour advocates warned that many migrants are vulnerable to deception, with some promised factory jobs only to be sent to agricultural plantations or logging operations instead. “No matter how many arrests are made, brokers will keep finding ways to lure people,” said a labour activist based in Muse, who requested anonymity because of security concerns. “People need to verify who they are dealing with and make sure they have proper documentation before coming.” Thousands of Myanmar migrants who have been deported or are waiting to cross into China remain stranded in Muse, according to residents and aid volunteers. Local community groups have been providing food, temporary shelter, and transportation assistance to those unable to return home. Workers in Muse, Ruili, and Jiegao said they expect the number of arrests and deportations to increase in the coming weeks as Chinese authorities continue their enforcement campaign.

China steps up arrests, deportations of undocumented Myanmar workers in border region

The crackdown has reportedly left thousands of deportees and would-be migrants stranded in the Myanmar border town of Muse

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