GOP Fights To Remove Chinese Police From American Soil

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Republicans in Congress are taking decisive action against unlawful Chinese police stations operating on American soil, introducing legislation that could impose severe penalties on those involved in these covert operations.

Quick Takes

Congressional Republicans have introduced the Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act of 2025 to combat unauthorized Chinese police presence in the U.S.
The FBI has identified at least 102 Chinese overseas police stations across 53 countries, including several in major U.S. cities.
These stations reportedly monitor and intimidate Chinese nationals and dissidents living abroad.
The legislation would impose sanctions, asset freezes, and visa denials on individuals associated with these operations.
In 2023, the FBI arrested two individuals connected to a Chinese police station in New York City.

Unauthorized Foreign Police on American Soil

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been operating secret police stations on American soil, prompting a strong legislative response from Republican lawmakers. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) have introduced the Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act of 2025 (H.R.2127), targeting these unauthorized operations. The legislation aims to shut down these stations, which allegedly surveil and intimidate Chinese nationals and dissidents living in the United States, particularly in communities with significant Chinese populations.

The existence of these stations came to public attention following FBI raids, including one on a Manhattan outpost in 2022. This marked the first public raid against such operations, though the U.S. government has reportedly been aware of these activities since early 2022. According to intelligence reports, these stations are part of broader CCP initiatives like “Operation Fox Hunt” launched in 2014 and “Operation Sky Net” initiated in 2015, both designed to target Chinese nationals abroad who are considered fugitives or dissidents by the Beijing regime.

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

Legislation with Teeth

The proposed legislation includes significant enforcement mechanisms aimed at curtailing these operations. It would impose financial sanctions, visa restrictions, and asset freezes on entities and individuals involved in running illegal Chinese police stations in the U.S. Additionally, it strengthens legal frameworks for designating and prosecuting individuals engaged in these activities, particularly those affiliated with the United Front Work Department who harass or coerce U.S. residents and dissidents.

“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 bill has garnered support from several Republican representatives, including 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). This coalition reflects growing concern among lawmakers about foreign interference on American soil and the potential threats these operations pose to national security and individual freedoms.

Evidence of Foreign Operations

Evidence of these operations has mounted in recent years. The Department of Justice indicted two New York residents for acting as agents of the CCP and obstructing justice by destroying evidence. These individuals were reportedly running a secret police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown that aided the CCP in repressing Chinese dissidents. In 2023, the FBI arrested two individuals connected to this station, with one pleading guilty to being an unregistered foreign agent.

“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.

A global investigation has identified at least 102 known or suspected Chinese overseas police stations operating in 53 countries, with several located in major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and San Francisco. These stations reportedly function under various front organizations, making them difficult to identify and monitor. Since the launch of these operations, the CCP claims to have returned approximately 10,000 Chinese fugitives to China, demonstrating their extensive reach and disregard for international borders.

National Security Implications

The presence of unauthorized foreign police stations on American soil raises significant national security concerns. These operations not only violate U.S. sovereignty but also potentially compromise the safety and rights of both Chinese nationals living abroad and American citizens. The legislation represents a broader effort to counter Chinese influence operations and protect individuals from intimidation and coercion by foreign governments.

President Trump’s administration is expected to take a strong stance on these issues, building on previous efforts to counter Chinese espionage and influence operations. The legislation aligns with calls from security experts to reinstate initiatives like the Department of Justice’s China Initiative, which was designed to counter Chinese espionage but was discontinued amid controversy during the previous administration.