Fox News reports that border patrol arrests of Chinese nationals entering the U.S illegally have increased by more than 800% since last year.

According to a senior source from Customs and Border Protection, 800% more Chinese nationals were apprehended than in the same period of the previous fiscal year. This includes January. The numbers have not been released.

CBP statistics show that 1,862 Border Patrol encounters were made with Chinese nationals in the period October to December. This is compared to 229 encounters with Chinese nationals in the same time period in FY 2022 which would have been a more 700% increase.

There were 931 Chinese citizens in December, as opposed to 64 in December 2021.

Fox News was told by a Department of Homeland Security source that 15 Chinese nationals were held in Rio Grande Valley Sector custody as of Wednesday. They are all adults, ranging from their 20s through their 50s.

Fox was told by the Chinese Communist Party that they are usually processed for removal quickly unless they claim to have a credible fear or persecution if they return to China.

Many are now claiming fear and being released to the U.S. by themselves and with a notice to attend a court date for their immigration hearings.

The DHS is looking for Chinese spies or other threats to national security at the southern border.

Three Chinese nationals, each paying $35,000 to human smugglers, were arrested in Texas last week. Chinese nationals are typically charged a higher rate by smugglers.

The U.S. border with Mexico is currently in the grips of a historic migration crisis. In December, there were more than 251,000 migrants who encountered the border. Fox reports that this number fell to about 150,000 in January. However, the Biden administration has linked the situation to the recent border measures announced last month.

Last year, more than 170 nationals arrived at the border.