In brief
Guan Heng, who documented human rights violations in Xinjiang, was at risk of deportation to China where he would face persecution. Advocacy on his behalf, including from U.S. lawmakers, has resulted in the Department of Homeland Security dropping the deportation plan, and his asylum case is expected to progress positively. Guan's journey from China to the U.S. included dangerous attempts to escape and exposing abuse through video documentation.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security has dropped its plan to deport a Chinese national who entered the country illegally, as his case raised public concern over potential punishment from Beijing for exposing human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Rayhan Asat, a human rights lawyer involved in Guan Heng's case, reported that DHS officials have communicated their decision in a letter sent to Guan's lawyer. Asat expressed optimism that Guan's asylum application will now proceed more smoothly.
Advocacy groups, including Human Rights in China, confirmed this positive development, with Executive Director Zhou Fengsuo celebrating the news.
Guan's legal team is currently working to secure his release from an ICE detention facility in New York.
In 2020, Guanh Heng secretly recorded detention facilities in Xinjiang, where it is estimated that up to one million individuals, primarily Uyghurs, have been detained under severe conditions. The Chinese government has consistently denied these allegations.
Having left China in 2021, Guan embarked on an arduous journey that took him through Hong Kong and Ecuador to the Bahamas, and ultimately to Florida, where he released crucial video evidence exposing the situation in Xinjiang.
However, after revealing his experience, Guan became a target, with threats made against his family in China. His attempt to live quietly in New York was disrupted when he was detained by ICE agents in August.
As public support surged, including calls from U.S. lawmakers, the administration faced mounting pressure to allow him to stay. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi emphasized the moral obligation of the U.S. to protect those who risk their lives to promote human rights.
