An investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) has revealed that a Telegram channel, operated by a self-identified Chinese “cyber police” agent, is enabling illegal immigration and prostitution in the United States.
The channel, named the “American Self-Guided Tour Channel,” has about 8,000 members and provides information on how to enter the U.S. illegally, including details on border wall gaps and asylum scripts. The DCNF discovered the channel through a cell phone left behind by a Chinese immigrant near the California-Mexico border.
The channel’s content includes numerous posts advertising prostitutes, primarily in California, with many described as illegal immigrants from China. Several accounts on the channel also appear linked to “snakeheads,” a term for human smugglers, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Additionally, the DCNF found that the channel recruits Chinese immigrants to work in massage parlors, which are also advertised on various escort websites. Visits to some Los Angeles-area businesses mentioned in the posts raised questions about their activities.
Ammon Blair, a former Border Patrol agent and Army veteran, indicated that nail salons and massage parlors have been used for money laundering and other illicit activities by Chinese nationals linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Blair, now with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, noted the CCP’s strategy to undermine populations while funding other illegal activities.
Since fiscal year 2022, the U.S. has seen a 1,100% increase in Chinese illegal immigration, with single adults comprising the majority of over 55,000 immigrants encountered by U.S. authorities 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 is corrupt and self-serving. The Party and its officials facilitate illegal activities across the globe to help advance the goals of the regime.” He called for the Biden administration to take stronger actions to counter the threat.
Telegram did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
One active account in the channel, @sungou999, frequently expresses pro-CCP views and advertises services in Monterey Park, California. In one instance, @sungou999 posted images of women and listed prices for various illegal services. The DCNF matched addresses and phone numbers from these posts with businesses in California and found that some massage parlors mentioned also appear on escort websites.
Blair noted that some establishments operate as cash-based businesses to launder money from illegal activities while coercing women to provide illicit services.
Several accounts, including @sungou999, identified themselves as part of human smuggling networks. These accounts offer 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.
