A months-long investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) has revealed that a Telegram channel operated by a self-proclaimed Chinese “cyber police” agent is facilitating illegal immigration, prostitution and human trafficking in the United States.
The Telegram channel, known as the “American Self-Guided Tour Channel,” serves as a hub for Chinese nationals seeking to enter the U.S. illegally. With 8,000 members, the channel provides detailed information on border wall gaps and scripts for obtaining asylum. The DCNF discovered this channel after analyzing a cell phone abandoned by a Chinese illegal immigrant near the California-Mexico border.
A review of hundreds of posts in the Telegram channel revealed advertisements for prostitutes, primarily in California. Many posts describe these individuals as illegal immigrants from China. Additionally, some accounts in the channel claim affiliation with “snakeheads,” a term for human smugglers, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The DCNF also found that the channel recruits Chinese illegal immigrants to work in massage parlors that advertise on escort websites. Visits to several Los Angeles-area businesses mentioned in the posts raised questions about their operations.
Ammon Blair, a former Border Patrol agent and Army veteran, explained that nail salons and massage parlors have been used as fronts for money laundering and illegal activities by Chinese nationals linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Blair, now a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, emphasized the CCP’s use of illegal activities to undermine target populations while generating illicit profits.
Since fiscal year 2022, the U.S. has seen a 1,100% increase in Chinese illegal immigration. Single adults make up the majority of the over 55,000 Chinese illegal immigrants encountered by U.S. authorities so far in 2024, according to Customs and Border Protection data. Intelligence experts and Republican lawmakers warn that this trend poses a national security threat.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) stated, “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is corrupt and self-serving. The Party and its officials facilitate illegal activities across the globe to advance the goals of the regime.” He urged the Biden administration to do more to counter this threat.
Telegram did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
One prominent account in the channel, @sungou999, frequently expresses pro-CCP views and advertises illegal services near Monterey Park, California. In one post, @sungou999 shared images of women and wrote, “Los Angeles prostitutes.” He also posted messages about the costs of various illegal services.
The DCNF matched addresses and phone numbers from @sungou999’s posts with businesses in California and found that some massage parlors advertised in the channel also appear on escort websites. Observations of these locations suggested they might be involved in illegal activities.
Blair noted that some establishments operate as cash-based businesses to launder money from illicit activities while coercing women to provide illegal services.
Several accounts in the Telegram channel, including @sungou999, identified themselves as being involved with “snakeheads.” These accounts provided consulting services on how to immigrate to the U.S. illegally, sometimes charging significant fees.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) highlighted the profitability of human smuggling and illegal activities, describing them as a $150 billion-a-year global business. She emphasized that these organizations do not share American values and are involved in trafficking individuals for illicit purposes.
The State Department has warned that Chinese human traffickers exploit men, women, and children in more than 80 countries. While the exact number of Chinese illegal immigrants involved in these activities is unknown, Blackburn cited an “8,000% increase” in Chinese illegal immigrants in recent years as a national security concern.
Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) noted that the actual number of Chinese illegal immigrants might be higher than reported figures. In May 2024, Bishop chaired a hearing on the surge in Chinese illegal immigration since President Joe Biden took office. The hearing followed a DCNF investigation revealing that the Biden administration had simplified the vetting process for Chinese illegal immigrants, raising further concerns.
“It is a shocking and unexplained development,” Bishop said.
