A Chinese man, Guan Heng, who filmed secret footage in Xinjiang, now faces potential deportation from the United States after a perilous journey to seek asylum. In October 2021, driven by fear for his safety, he set sail from the Bahamas in a small inflatable boat, reaching Florida after a grueling 23-hour journey. His escape came shortly after he published a video depicting alleged human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, where many have reportedly been detained.
Guan’s decision to flee stemmed from concerns that his film would lead to his arrest in China. He hoped that by reaching the U.S., he could find refuge and share his experiences. After months in immigration detention in upstate New York, the 38-year-old appeared virtually before an immigration court to present his asylum application. A subsequent hearing is scheduled for January 12, 2024, as he awaits a decision on his fate. If his application is rejected, Guan could be deported to Uganda, a possibility argued for by a lawyer from the Department of Homeland Security during a recent hearing.
Guan’s story raises concerns about the current climate of immigration enforcement in the U.S. “He has a pending asylum application, and the circumstances of his departure from the PRC are a textbook example of why asylum exists,” stated Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic representative from Illinois, in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents encountered Guan while executing a criminal search warrant. The agency characterized him as an “illegal alien” who entered the U.S. at an unknown time. All claims made by Guan will be evaluated by an immigration judge.
Guan’s journey began in 2020 when he became aware of reports regarding the extrajudicial detention of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. Following his mother’s and lawyer’s accounts, he decided to document the situation firsthand. After gathering footage of purported detention camps, he left China in July 2021, traveling first to Ecuador and then to the Bahamas, where he acquired the boat used for his crossing.
Once in the U.S., Guan applied for asylum and obtained a work permit, supporting himself through Uber driving and odd jobs. Unfortunately, in August 2023, he was arrested by ICE during a raid that targeted his roommate. His lawyer, Chen Chuangchuang, noted that Guan’s arrest was largely a matter of unfortunate timing.
Human rights activists have criticized the situation, arguing that the U.S. should protect Guan as a whistleblower. His family in China has faced repercussions for his actions, with reports of extensive interrogations after his departure. “There is not one family member of his who has been left unaffected and not investigated,” his mother, Luo Yun, currently residing in Taiwan, told NPR. “My son is young; his road [in life] is still long. I hope he can stay in the U.S. He has no path of retreat from this.”
Within China, authorities continue to aggressively detain individuals perceived as threats to state security, particularly those who leak information about the Xinjiang situation. As Guan awaits the outcome of his asylum application, his case exemplifies the complex intersection of human rights and immigration policy in the U.S.
