Yuhui Chai came to the United States from China more than a dozen years ago, drawn by the country’s vibrant democratic values. She eventually found work as a journalist, relishing the chance to pursue hard-hitting stories and ask questions in a manner often discouraged in China’s authoritarian society.

Now Chai is among more than 100 Chinese news media employees in the United States caught in a heated dispute between Beijing and Washington over the rights of foreign journalists. Unable to secure a long-term visa amid new U.S. restrictions, she has decided to leave her job this week to return to China.

"There’s no way to plan for the future,” said Chai, a New York-based correspondent who covers technology for SunTV, a Hong Kong news outlet. "It’s very painful.”