In a significant development, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has abandoned its effort to deport a Chinese national who entered the country illegally. This decision comes after widespread public concern that the man would face severe punishment from Beijing for his role in exposing alleged human rights violations in China's Xinjiang region.
Legal Victory and Path to Asylum
Human rights lawyer Rayhan Asat, who assisted in the case, confirmed that Guan Heng's legal team received official communication from the DHS. The letter stated the department's decision to withdraw its request to send the 38-year-old to Uganda. Asat expressed optimism, stating she now expects Guan's asylum application to "proceed smoothly and favorably." Zhou Fengsuo, the executive director of the advocacy group Human Rights in China, also verified the administration's move, simply stating, "We're really happy." The DHS did not provide an immediate comment on the matter.
According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database, Guan remains listed as a detainee. His lawyers are currently working to secure his release on bond from an ICE detention facility in New York. This legal shift marks a pivotal moment in a case that has attracted considerable attention from US lawmakers and human rights advocates.
Guan Heng's Dangerous Journey to Expose Xinjiang
The backdrop to this case is Guan Heng's courageous actions in 2020. At great personal risk, he secretly filmed inside detention facilities in China's northwestern Xinjiang region. Activists allege these camps have been used to detain up to 1 million ethnic minorities, primarily Uyghurs. The Chinese government has consistently denied all accusations of rights abuses, characterizing the centers as vocational training facilities aimed at combating extremism and teaching employable skills.
Understanding he could not safely release the footage from within China, Guan embarked on a perilous journey. He left mainland China in 2021 for Hong Kong, then flew to Ecuador—a country that did not require visas for Chinese nationals at the time. From there, he traveled to the Bahamas. In a daring move, he purchased a small inflatable boat and an outboard motor and set sail for Florida. After a grueling 23 hours at sea, he reached the US coastline.
Once in the United States, the video evidence he gathered was published on YouTube by Human Rights in China, providing what the group calls further proof of systemic abuses in Xinjiang. However, the backlash was swift. Guan was doxxed, and his family back in China was summoned by state security authorities. He sought asylum and attempted to live quietly in a small town outside Albany, New York, until his detention by ICE agents in August of this year.
Growing Public Support and Political Backing
Guan's plight gained significant traction in recent weeks after his case was publicized. Support swelled, including from members of the US Congress. Before a court appearance earlier this month, several American lawmakers called for him to be granted safe haven.
The congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission took to social media platform X.com to voice support, stating, "Guan Heng put himself at risk to document concentration camps in Xinjiang, part of the CCP's genocide against Uyghurs. Now in the United States, he faces deportation to China, where he would likely be persecuted. He should be given every opportunity to stay in a place of refuge."
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, wrote directly to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He urged her to release Guan and approve his asylum request, arguing that the US "has a moral responsibility to stand up for victims of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, as well as the brave individuals who take immense personal risks to expose these abuses to the world."
The DHS's decision to drop the deportation plan is seen as a direct response to this mounting pressure and a critical step toward providing sanctuary for the whistleblower.
