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The Deportation of Qian Xuesen

Jun 2, 2025

Opinion: The U.S. Made a Terrible Mistake When It Deported Qian Xuesen

Overview

  • Published Date: May 30, 2025
  • Author: Kathleen Kingsbury, Opinion editor at The New York Times

Key Points

Introduction

  • Qian Xuesen was a brilliant Chinese rocket scientist in the U.S.
  • He played a pivotal role in aerospace, weaponry, and was involved in the Manhattan Project.
  • Despite his contributions, he was deported from the U.S. in 1955.

Qian Xuesen's Contributions in the U.S.

  • Worked at California Institute of Technology and M.I.T.
  • Helped develop America's first guided ballistic missiles.
  • Held a colonel rank in the U.S. Air Force.
  • Worked on the Manhattan Project and interrogated Nazi scientists.
  • Was working on designing a rocket for America's first manned space mission.

Deportation and Its Implications

  • Arrested and handcuffed at the height of his career, later cleared of charges.
  • Deported to China in exchange for American prisoners.
  • Immediately contributed to China's missile and space programs.
  • By 1980, China developed missiles capable of reaching major U.S. and Russian cities.

Current Relevance

  • Similar policies under Trump's administration targeting foreign students, particularly Chinese.
  • Marco Rubio announced aggressive revocation of Chinese student visas.
  • Qian's story serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of xenophobia.

Historical Context and Impact

  • Part of McCarthy's Red Scare, faced revocation of security clearance.
  • U.S. missed a chance to dominate in space exploration.
  • Qian's contributions helped China become a superpower.

Educational Exchange and Strategic Advantage

  • Qian came to the U.S. under an educational exchange program.
  • Program aimed to promote American values and foster global peace.
  • 1960s: Majority of China’s top scientists trained in America.

Legacy

  • Qian became a national hero in China.
  • Never returned to the U.S., became a leader in the Chinese Communist Party.
  • A museum in China honors his contributions.

Conclusion

  • The decision to deport Qian Xuesen changed global power dynamics.
  • Highlights the risks of alienating international talent.
  • America’s educational exchange once enhanced its strategic advantage, now being challenged.

Author's Background

  • Kathleen Kingsbury is an experienced journalist with a Pulitzer Prize.
  • Joined The New York Times in 2017.

Additional Information

  • The article originally appeared in print on June 1, 2025, in The New York edition.
  • The story sheds light on historical and contemporary issues of immigration and talent retention.