When Jin Bian’s employer enforced a return-to-office policy last year, he wanted to reduce his one-hour commute by buying a house closer to his job in Tampa, Florida. However, he was soon informed that this purchase could lead to prison time. “That was really shocking to me. It’s just purchasing property,” said Bian, originally from Nanjing, China. “Once I learned that, I didn’t even bother to look anymore.”
Bian, a 31-year-old software engineer living in the US for 12 years on an H-1B visa (allows companies to employ foreign workers in the USA) now finds himself in a precarious situation. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law last year prohibiting Chinese nationals without US green cards from purchasing property in the state. This law, effective since July 1, 2023, imposes felony charges and possible imprisonment for violators.
The law has sparked confusion and unease among Chinese residents in Florida. Many report that it has harmed their businesses, and some are contemplating leaving the state. This legislation highlights the escalating tensions between the US and China, especially in an election year.
“We feel like we’re different from everyone else because of this type of law,” said Echo King, a US citizen born in China and president of the Florida Asian American Justice Alliance. “We feel like we’re not welcome.”
Florida Senate Bill 264 (SB 264) restricts property purchases by citizens from countries deemed a threat, including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria, near “military installations or critical infrastructure.” However, it uniquely targets Chinese citizens without green cards, barring them from buying any property in the state. Governor DeSantis defended the law, stating it counteracts the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Susan Li, a 47-year-old business owner in Orlando, with a green card, halted her housing search, fearing legal complications. “I thought maybe it’s too much to bother, so I’m not looking right now,” she said. “No matter if I have a green card or I’m a citizen, I still have a Chinese face.”
The backdrop of this law includes heightened US-China tensions, with fears of Chinese spying reaching a peak after a Chinese surveillance balloon incident last year. Allegations that Chinese-owned apps like TikTok facilitate spying have further fueled these concerns. Some lawmakers worry about Chinese land ownership in the US, viewing it as a national security threat. Mortgage lenders in Florida, like Teresa Jin, are also affected, facing uncertainty over the law’s implications. Some lenders refuse to work with clients holding Chinese passports, even if they are legal residents. Zhu criticized this response, calling it unfair and un-American.
While Bian hopes the law will be overturned, he and others are considering relocating to states without such restrictions. Bian is eyeing a move back to California if the situation doesn’t change soon. “I don’t think California will ever have this kind of law,” he said.