Claim: Chinese nationals are banned from entering the United States.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The video titled “Mga Chinese banned na sa America! (The Chinese are banned in America!)” was uploaded on YouTube by the channel “Kaalaman PH,” which has over 1.28 million subscribers. As of writing, the video has 93,218 views, 2,200 likes, and 268 comments.
The video’s title and thumbnail, which shows the text “No Chinese Allowed,” imply that Chinese nationals are barred from entering the US. The video’s narrator cites security concerns linked to Chinese spies deployed worldwide. One example cited is the case of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, alleged to be a Chinese spy sent to the Philippines.
The video also references 25 anti-China bills passed by the US House of Representatives “last Wednesday,” presumably referring to November 6, as the video was posted on November 7, 2024.
The facts: The video’s title and thumbnail falsely imply that Chinese nationals are barred from entering the US. The video actually refers to initiatives by US lawmakers targeting China’s economic and political influence.
The US House of Representatives concluded a “China week” focused on advancing 25 China-related bills, mainly aimed at limiting the presence of Chinese companies in the US market. These measures were passed in September, not on November 6, 2024.
Not yet enacted into law: The US legislative process states that a bill must be voted on and approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate. If both chambers of Congress approve the bill, it is sent to the President, who can either sign or veto it. If the President signs it, the bill becomes law.
The package of bills approved by the US House has yet to be approved by the Senate—meaning these are not yet enacted into law.
Restrictions not limited to Chinese: None of the 25 bills passed include any provisions to restrict Chinese nationals from entering the US. Instead, the bills highlighted restrictions on China’s economic, technological, and political influence on the US.
The proposed legislation would limit foreign ownership of land, regulate business operations, and allocate funding to “counter the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party,” among other provisions.
Some of the measures also specify restrictions on foreigners in general, with special mention of countries like Russia, North Korea, and Iran—not just China.
Some of these bills were originally introduced in 2023 but were only passed this year. However, it remains unclear when the Senate will hold hearings for their approval, as the US is currently transitioning to a new administration following Donald Trump’s presidential victory. He is set to be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025. – Jerry Yubal Jr./Rappler.com
Jerry Yubal Jr. is a graduate of Aries Rufo Journalism fellow of Rappler for 2023-2024. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.