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A Chinese activist who documented detention facilities in Xinjiang was granted asylum in the United States on Wednesday after an immigration judge determined he faced legitimate persecution if returned to China.
Guan Heng, 38, has been detained since August when he was caught in an immigration enforcement operation initiated by the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. He originally entered the U.S. illegally in 2021 after fleeing China due to his human rights documentation work.
During a hearing in Napanoch, New York, Judge Charles Ouslander ruled that Guan had established “well-founded fear” of persecution if deported to China. The judge deemed Guan a credible witness and acknowledged the real threats he would face upon return.
“This is a textbook example of why asylum should exist,” argued Guan’s lawyer, Chen Chuangchuang, who maintained that the U.S. has both a “moral and legal obligation” to grant protection.
Guan’s case gained prominence when the Department of Homeland Security initially attempted to deport him to Uganda. The plan was abandoned in December after his situation drew public concern and attention from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The core of Guan’s asylum claim centers on his documentation of human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region. In 2020, he secretly filmed detention facilities there, adding to mounting evidence of what human rights organizations characterize as systematic oppression against ethnic minorities, particularly the Uyghur population. Human rights groups estimate that as many as one million Uyghurs have been detained in these facilities.
When questioned during Wednesday’s hearing about whether he had filmed the facilities specifically to create grounds for an asylum claim, Guan, speaking through a translator via video link from the Broome County Correctional Facility, rejected this suggestion.
“I sympathized with the Uyghurs who were persecuted,” he explained.
In a previous interview with The Associated Press, Guan described his journey after realizing he needed to leave China to safely publish his footage. He first traveled to Hong Kong, then to Ecuador—where Chinese tourists could enter without visas—before making his way to the Bahamas. He released most of his video documentation on YouTube before taking a boat to Florida in October 2021.
Guan testified that Chinese authorities questioned his father three times after the footage was released, strengthening his claim of potential persecution. The judge noted this government action in his ruling, citing it as evidence of the risk Guan would face if returned to China.
The Chinese government has consistently denied allegations of rights abuses in Xinjiang, characterizing its facilities as vocational training centers designed to combat extremism and provide employable skills to local residents.
Despite the favorable ruling, Guan was not immediately released. The Department of Homeland Security representative reserved the right to appeal the decision within the next 30 days. Judge Ouslander urged the department to make its determination quickly, noting that Guan has already spent approximately five months in detention.
Guan’s successful asylum claim represents an increasingly rare outcome under the current administration. According to data compiled by Mobile Pathways, a California-based nonprofit supporting immigrants navigating the U.S. legal system, asylum approval rates have plummeted to 10% in 2025, down sharply from 28% between 2010 and 2024.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between U.S. asylum policies and human rights concerns, particularly regarding China’s treatment of ethnic minorities. As Xinjiang continues to be a flashpoint in international human rights discussions, Guan’s documentation adds to the significant body of evidence that activists have gathered to expose conditions in the region.
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8 Comments
It’s good to see the US upholding its commitment to asylum and human rights, even in the face of political pressure. Protecting whistleblowers and activists who risk their lives to expose atrocities is crucial. Hopefully, this case encourages more people to come forward.
Granting asylum to Guan Heng is an important step, but the work to hold China accountable for its human rights violations must continue. The US should do more to support activists and journalists who shed light on these issues globally.
This decision is a win for human rights, but the broader situation in Xinjiang remains deeply concerning. I hope the US and its allies will maintain pressure on China to end the repression of ethnic minorities and respect fundamental freedoms.
This is a positive development, but the fight for human rights in China is far from over. The US must remain vigilant in supporting activists, journalists, and whistleblowers who risk their lives to expose the truth about the Chinese government’s abuses.
Guan Heng’s case highlights the ongoing struggle for basic freedoms and the rule of law in China. While this asylum decision is welcome, the US should leverage its influence to push for greater accountability and transparency from the Chinese government.
While I’m glad Guan Heng has been granted asylum, the fact that he faced deportation in the first place is troubling. The US must strengthen its protections for whistleblowers and refugees who risk everything to expose the truth.
This is an important victory for human rights and the right to seek asylum. Guan Heng’s courageous work to expose abuses in China deserves recognition and protection. Hopefully, this sets a precedent for others who flee persecution to be granted safe haven in the US.
Kudos to the immigration judge for recognizing the genuine threat Guan Heng would face if returned to China. Providing asylum to those who stand up against human rights abuses is the right thing to do, even if it comes with political complications.