Republicans in Congress introduce sweeping legislation to combat secret Chinese police operations on American soil, as alarming evidence reveals a network of illegal outposts surveilling Chinese nationals and dissidents across the United States.
Key Takeaways
- Republicans have introduced the Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act of 2025 (H.R.2127) to shut down illegal Chinese police stations operating in major U.S. cities
- The FBI has identified at least 102 Chinese overseas police stations in 53 countries, with several in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and San Francisco
- Two individuals connected to a secret police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown were arrested in 2023, with one pleading guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent
- The legislation would impose sanctions, asset freezes, and visa restrictions on Chinese Communist Party officials involved in these operations
- These covert stations are part of China’s “Operation Fox Hunt” and “Operation Sky Net,” which have reportedly repatriated 10,000 Chinese fugitives since 2014
Uncovering China’s Secret Police Network
Congressional Republicans are taking decisive action against what they describe as a dangerous infiltration of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) policing operations on American soil. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) have introduced the Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act of 2025 (H.R.2127), legislation designed to identify, prosecute, and expel individuals operating unauthorized Chinese police stations across the United States.
Evidence of these operations became undeniable in 2023 when the FBI arrested two individuals connected to a Chinese police station in New York City. One of the individuals subsequently pleaded guilty to being an unregistered foreign agent. These arrests came after the FBI raided a Manhattan outpost in 2022, marking the first public action against such facilities. According to investigative reports, at least 102 Chinese overseas police stations operate in 53 countries worldwide, with several identified in major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and San Francisco.
Congressional Republicans are targeting Chinese police stations operating in the US with new legislation designed to counter the Chinese Communist Party's foreign influence operations. | @jameslynch32 https://t.co/lpBhHzFk7Y
— National Review (@NRO) March 19, 2025
Operations Fox Hunt and Sky Net
These police stations are components of broader Chinese initiatives started nearly a decade ago. The CCP launched “Operation Fox Hunt” in 2014 to repatriate Chinese fugitives and followed it with “Operation Sky Net” in 2015, which specifically targets dissidents accused of financial crimes. Since these programs began, approximately 10,000 Chinese fugitives have reportedly been returned to China, demonstrating the CCP’s blatant disregard for international borders and sovereign jurisdictions.
“The Chinese Communist Party should have never been able to operate police stations in the U.S. to surveil American citizens and harass Chinese citizens who have fled the Communist regime. We should find, prosecute, and sanction any Chinese Communist Party official involved in standing up police stations on U.S. soil. Senator Tom Cotton and I are working to end these illegal intimidation tactics that undermine U.S. sovereignty and finally hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for such egregious violations,” Congresswoman Ashley Hinson said.
The Department of Justice has indicted individuals for “conspiring to act as agents” of the Chinese government. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen stated these operations “go far beyond the bounds of acceptable nation-state conduct.” The indictments reveal these agents were running secret police stations, primarily focused on repressing Chinese dissidents living in America and monitoring Chinese nationals abroad.
Republican Response and Legislative Details
The proposed legislation aims to impose severe consequences on those involved in these operations. It includes financial sanctions, visa restrictions, and asset freezes targeting entities and individuals operating illegal Chinese police stations. The bill also enhances penalties for individuals affiliated with China’s United Front Work Department who harass or coerce U.S. residents and dissidents.
“No foreign government has the right to operate secret police stations on American soil. The Chinese Communist Party’s actions undermine international norms and human rights by circumventing legal extradition processes and engaging in intimidation tactics. This legislation sends a clear message: the United States will never tolerate illegal operations that violate our sovereignty and intimidate individuals living within our borders,” Senator Tom Cotton said.
Original sponsors of the bill include Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ). The legislation has gained support from key congressional committees focused on national security and China affairs. The bill’s proponents argue these measures are necessary to protect American sovereignty and secure individual freedoms against external interference from the Chinese government.
Strengthening National Security
The legislation represents part of a broader strategy under President Trump’s administration to counter Chinese influence operations within U.S. borders. It complements existing diplomatic and security initiatives aimed at addressing what many lawmakers perceive as increasingly aggressive Chinese actions worldwide. The bill’s supporters argue that tolerating foreign police operations on American soil undermines fundamental principles of sovereignty and creates unacceptable security risks.
“The Select Committee has been at the forefront of exposing and evicting the illegal Chinese police stations that have been operating on American soil. These stations represent a direct threat to our national security and undermine the rule of law in the United States. This legislation is a critical step in safeguarding the freedoms of the American people and ensuring that no foreign government can infringe upon our sovereignty, and I commend Rep. Hinson for her leadership and commitment to holding the Chinese government accountable,” Chairman John Moolenaar said.
As the bill moves through the legislative process, Republican lawmakers are urging swift action to address what they characterize as a clear violation of American sovereignty. They advocate for reinstating focused counter-espionage programs and providing educational resources on constitutional rights to communities potentially targeted by foreign surveillance efforts. The legislation underscores a determined effort to defend U.S. territory against what many see as increasingly brazen foreign interference operations.
Sources:
- Crack down on illegal Chinese police stations in the US
- Hinson, Cotton Introduce Legislation to Expel Chinese Police Operatives in U.S.
- House Republicans Move to Crack Down on Chinese Police Stations in the U.S. | National Review
- Republicans Move to Shut Down Chinese Police Stations Operating In the U.S.
