A Chinese man who documented alleged human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang is at risk of deportation from the United States after being detained by immigration authorities in August. Guan Heng, 38, appeared at an immigration hearing in New York on Monday, with his next hearing set for January, according to his lawyer Chen Chuangchuang.
Guan filmed a 20-minute video in late 2021 detailing his travels to sites in Xinjiang identified by a BuzzFeed investigation as detention facilities for Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. China has been accused of detaining over a million Uyghurs since 2017, which the United Nations said could constitute 'crimes against humanity'. Beijing denies the allegations, stating its policies combat extremism and promote development.
After filming, Guan left China and entered the US via South America. He told his mother, Luo Yun, that he did not plan to return. In August, a friend informed Luo that Guan had been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Luo said her son was in a state of 'extreme panic and breakdown' when she contacted him.
Guan's lawyer is challenging a potential plan to send him to Uganda for asylum processing, arguing he could be returned to China from there. The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission warned that Guan 'would likely be persecuted' if repatriated, urging he be allowed to stay in a place of refuge.
Luo expressed deep concern for her son's safety, saying, 'I’m really, really worried that things will be very bad for him if he is made to return.' She also noted that family members in China have been questioned by authorities about Guan since his video was published.
