Embassy warns over Washington airport entry

THE Chinese Embassy in the United States issued a notice yesterday advising Chinese students studying in the US to be cautious in choosing to enter through Washington Dulles International Airport.

Recently, several Chinese students who entered the US through the Washington airport were subjected to unreasonable questioning and harassment by US border law enforcement officers, had their visas canceled and were sent back to China, the embassy said in a statement on its official website.

These students all held valid documents and were returning to the US after visiting their home country, traveling to a third country, attending a conference, or arriving in the US as new students, the statement said.

During their interrogation, their electronic devices were searched, they were sometimes detained for more than 10 hours with restricted movement and were prohibited from contacting anyone.

The practices of US border law enforcement officials have seriously impacted the academic pursuits of the Chinese students and caused significant psychological harm, the embassy said.

The embassy attaches great importance to safeguarding the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students studying in the US and has made solemn representations to the US side regarding these incidents.

The embassy urged the US to stop its wrongdoing, including harassing, interrogating, and deporting Chinese students without just cause, and to implement the consensus of the two heads of state on supporting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the US and encouraging the expansion of the number of international students.

The embassy also reminded students planning to study in the US to be cautious in selecting entry through the Washington airport.