WASHINGTON (AP) — Guan Heng, a Chinese national who exposed human rights abuses in his homeland, was released from federal detention more than five months after his detention in a mass immigration enforcement operation under the Trump administration. Guan was reunited with his mother on Tuesday, shortly after being granted asylum by an immigration judge who established that he would face persecution if returned to China.
I’m in a great mood, the 38-year-old Guan shared with the media, expressing his joy upon regaining his freedom. Many friends have come to see me. He currently resides temporarily in Binghamton, New York, as he ponders his next steps.
His mother, Luo Yun, who traveled from Taiwan to support him, voiced her immense relief, stating, For five and half months I didn’t sleep one good sleep, but today I feel assured.
Guan’s release marks a significant success for asylum seekers, particularly during a time when many similar cases struggle to gain traction. At one point, there were plans for his deportation to Uganda, but these were halted after public outcry and attention from Congress.
Representative Ro Khanna, a leading Democrat in the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, criticized the lengthy detention Guan faced before receiving the right outcome, urging a push for transparency in federal immigration practices. He noted that the protection of those who expose human rights abuses is a fundamental moral obligation.
In 2020, Guan filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, contributing vital evidence to claims of widespread rights abuses against more than a million individuals, especially Uyghurs, detained in the region. Despite the critical findings, the Chinese government denied these allegations, asserting its operations are vocational training initiatives designed to enhance employability and eradicate radicalism.
As documented during his asylum hearing, Guan emphasized that his initial intent was not to provoke asylum claims but to shine a light on the humanitarian plight faced by Uyghurs. Following a perilous journey beginning in Hong Kong, he sought refuge in various countries, eventually reaching the U.S. He had released much of his footage prior to arriving in Florida in October 2021, hopeful his story would garner attention.
I’m in a great mood, the 38-year-old Guan shared with the media, expressing his joy upon regaining his freedom. Many friends have come to see me. He currently resides temporarily in Binghamton, New York, as he ponders his next steps.
His mother, Luo Yun, who traveled from Taiwan to support him, voiced her immense relief, stating, For five and half months I didn’t sleep one good sleep, but today I feel assured.
Guan’s release marks a significant success for asylum seekers, particularly during a time when many similar cases struggle to gain traction. At one point, there were plans for his deportation to Uganda, but these were halted after public outcry and attention from Congress.
Representative Ro Khanna, a leading Democrat in the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, criticized the lengthy detention Guan faced before receiving the right outcome, urging a push for transparency in federal immigration practices. He noted that the protection of those who expose human rights abuses is a fundamental moral obligation.
In 2020, Guan filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, contributing vital evidence to claims of widespread rights abuses against more than a million individuals, especially Uyghurs, detained in the region. Despite the critical findings, the Chinese government denied these allegations, asserting its operations are vocational training initiatives designed to enhance employability and eradicate radicalism.
As documented during his asylum hearing, Guan emphasized that his initial intent was not to provoke asylum claims but to shine a light on the humanitarian plight faced by Uyghurs. Following a perilous journey beginning in Hong Kong, he sought refuge in various countries, eventually reaching the U.S. He had released much of his footage prior to arriving in Florida in October 2021, hopeful his story would garner attention.
