Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially abandoned its attempt to deport Guan Heng, a Chinese national known for his covert footage revealing alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, rights advocates announced on Monday.
Human rights attorney Rayhan Asat, who is part of Guan’s legal representation, confirmed that they received official communication signaling DHS's withdrawal of its deportation request to Uganda. Asat believes this decision clears a significant path for Guan’s asylum application to advance smoothly.
Zhou Fengsuo, the executive director of the advocacy organization Human Rights in China, also affirmed the news, expressing relief that public interest has positively impacted Guan’s case.
At present, DHS has not provided comments regarding the situation. Records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement indicate that Guan, 38, remains in detention. His legal team is now working to secure his bond release from an ICE facility in New York.
Revelation Through Secret Footage
Guan gained international acclaim after his videos documenting detention centers in Xinjiang were released in 2020. Human rights organizations report that these centers have detained nearly one million individuals from ethnic minority groups, particularly the Uyghurs. The Chinese government has denied any allegations of misconduct, asserting that these facilities are vocational centers aimed at counter-terrorism and job skill development.
Human Rights in China notes that Guan realized he could not safely disclose the footage from within China. In 2021, he departed mainland China for Hong Kong before moving to Ecuador, which had no visa requirements for Chinese nationals at the time. He eventually traveled to the Bahamas.
The organization reports that Guan then acquired a small inflatable boat, navigating open waters toward the US. After nearly 23 hours at sea, he reached Florida’s shores. Shortly thereafter, the footage he had recorded in Xinjiang took to YouTube, adding significant documentation to the growing evidence of abuse in the area.
Family Threatened and Arrested in the US
Following the exposure of the footage, Guan was reportedly subjected to doxxing, with his family in China summoned by state security officials, as indicated by the rights organization. Out of concern for his safety, Guan sought asylum in the US, residing in a small town near Albany, New York, to remain discreet.
This period of relative peace ended in August when ICE agents apprehended him. The case attracted attention once again as advocates warned of the risks associated with his potential deportation.
Increasing Political Endorsement
Support for Guan has surged in recent weeks, notably from members of Congress. Prior to his latest court hearing, lawmakers called on the administration to ensure his safety.
The bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission stated that Guan risked his life to document treatment in Xinjiang, referring to the facilities as concentration camps. The commission issued a warning via X against his deportation, urging the US to extend refuge.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the senior Democrat on the House Select Committee regarding the Chinese Communist Party, wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem advocating for Guan’s immediate release and asylum approval, asserting, “The United States has a moral obligation to champion victims of human rights violations in Xinjiang, and those courageous individuals risking their safety to reveal these truths.”
With DHS’s withdrawal from deportation proceedings, Guan’s supporters are now focused on securing his release from detention and ensuring his asylum case progresses without delays.
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