GOP House Members Introduce Legislation to Bar Entry, Deport Employees of Chinese Military Companies

Two House lawmakers have introduced legislation that would bar employees of Chinese companies linked to Beijing’s military from entering the United States and deport those already in the country.

On June 10, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.) introduced the No PLA Employees Act (H.R.9249) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act.

If enacted, it would ensure that individuals “who have already worked to advance the [Chinese Communist Party’s] mission” are not admissible to the United States, Moolenaar said in a statement.

“The Chinese Communist Party [CCP] is working tirelessly to make the PLA the world’s leading military force by 2050,” he said, referring to China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army.

“Through its policy of civil-military fusion, it has enlisted dozens of companies, and their subsidiaries, to assist in that goal. Beyond that, the CCP expects any Chinese national abroad to support its cause if called upon.”

Moolenaar described his bill as “commonsense legislation” and emphasized that it would not affect “Chinese immigrants who seek to flee the regime’s persecution.”

According to the bill, current and former employees of companies and institutions included on two Pentagon blacklists would be barred from entering the United States. Those already in the country could face deportation.

In one list, the Pentagon flags Chinese companies that it believes are supporting the Chinese military. The latest update to its roster of “Chinese military companies” operating directly or indirectly in the United States was released on June 8, adding companies such as e-commerce marketplace Alibaba, internet giant Baidu, and electric carmaker BYD.

In the other list, the Pentagon identifies foreign institutions that it believes engage in problematic activity. In a 2024 update, it stated that the list was intended to counter unauthorized technology transfers that could threaten U.S. security and urged researchers, academic institutions, and industry partners to exercise caution when engaging with designated entities. Names on the list include the Beijing Institute of Technology, the Nanjing University of Science and Technology, and Sichuan University.

“At a time when the Chinese Communist Party is working aggressively to expand its influence over the United States economy and technological advancements, we cannot afford to hand over critical research and jobs to entities with ties to our greatest adversary,” Cline said in a statement.

“I am proud to work with Rep. Moolenaar to restrict visas to companies and employees with CCP links, ensuring hostile nations do not have access to our innovation, intellectual property, or critical infrastructure and strengthening America’s workforce and national security.”

Cline serves on the Committee on the Judiciary and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

In May, Moolenaar introduced the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act (H.R.8901) to protect federally funded research from foreign adversaries, particularly from China. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced the companion version (S.4525) of the legislation in the Senate.

According to a statement, the bicameral legislation would establish a government-wide ban on the use of federal funding for research collaborations with individuals and entities on U.S. government blacklists, including the Pentagon’s list of Chinese military companies. The types of research collaborations would include data sharing, personnel exchange, joint projects, and co-authorship.

“We must protect taxpayer-funded research from ever benefiting our adversaries,” Moolenaar said in a statement at the time. “Departments across the government and our universities must step up and make sure they are not working with Chinese researchers on dual-use technologies that could one day be used against our country.”

According to a fact sheet from the U.S. State Department, China is adopting a military-civil fusion strategy to divert the world’s cutting-edge technologies, including through theft, to achieve military dominance. Technologies targeted by the strategy include quantum computing, big data, semiconductors, 5G, artificial intelligence, and aerospace technology.