US Asylum Granting Rarities Amid Growing Repression in Xinjiang
A US immigration judge has made a rare decision granting asylum to a Chinese national who risked everything by exposing alleged human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority in China. Guan Heng, 48, applied for asylum after secretly filming detention facilities in Xinjiang and releasing the disturbing footage on YouTube. The shocking revelations have sparked widespread concern about China's treatment of ethnic minorities.
Heng was initially apprehended during a mass deportation campaign by the Trump administration last year but had his plans to deport him to Uganda dropped after public pressure mounted. In December, he found himself facing deportation to Uganda once more before the asylum decision changed everything.
According to federal data compiled by US non-profit Mobile Pathways, the approval rate for asylum seekers has plummeted since Donald Trump's return to office, falling to a mere 10% in recent years compared to a remarkable 28% between 2010 and 2024. Guan Heng, however, was not destined for deportation to Uganda but faced significant challenges ahead.
In January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dropped plans to deport Heng to Uganda after public outcry and mounting pressure on Capitol Hill raised eyebrows about his case. The decision paved the way for Heng to apply for asylum in the US, despite arriving in the country without proper authorization.
Guan's perilous journey began in 2020 when he secretly filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, shedding light on a widespread rights crisis affecting millions of ethnic minorities, particularly Uyghurs. The footage has left an indelible mark on public perception of China's actions in the region, where as many as one million people have been detained.
At Wednesday's hearing in New York, Guan insisted that his intention was not to solicit asylum but to raise awareness about the plight of the Uyghur minority. His lawyer, Chen Chuangchuang, argued fervently that Heng deserved asylum given the "textbook example" of human rights abuses he uncovered and faced.
Guan himself told the Associated Press in an interview that his intention was to make sure his footage would be seen after fleeing China. He claimed police questioned his father three times following the video's release, underscoring the danger Heng faces if returned to China.
In a surprise move, Judge Charles Ouslander ruled in Guan's favor, deeming him a credible witness and establishing his eligibility for asylum. While it remains to be seen whether the Department of Homeland Security will appeal this decision, one thing is clear: Guan Heng has been granted a rare reprieve from the consequences of his bravery.
A US immigration judge has made a rare decision granting asylum to a Chinese national who risked everything by exposing alleged human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority in China. Guan Heng, 48, applied for asylum after secretly filming detention facilities in Xinjiang and releasing the disturbing footage on YouTube. The shocking revelations have sparked widespread concern about China's treatment of ethnic minorities.
Heng was initially apprehended during a mass deportation campaign by the Trump administration last year but had his plans to deport him to Uganda dropped after public pressure mounted. In December, he found himself facing deportation to Uganda once more before the asylum decision changed everything.
According to federal data compiled by US non-profit Mobile Pathways, the approval rate for asylum seekers has plummeted since Donald Trump's return to office, falling to a mere 10% in recent years compared to a remarkable 28% between 2010 and 2024. Guan Heng, however, was not destined for deportation to Uganda but faced significant challenges ahead.
In January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dropped plans to deport Heng to Uganda after public outcry and mounting pressure on Capitol Hill raised eyebrows about his case. The decision paved the way for Heng to apply for asylum in the US, despite arriving in the country without proper authorization.
Guan's perilous journey began in 2020 when he secretly filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, shedding light on a widespread rights crisis affecting millions of ethnic minorities, particularly Uyghurs. The footage has left an indelible mark on public perception of China's actions in the region, where as many as one million people have been detained.
At Wednesday's hearing in New York, Guan insisted that his intention was not to solicit asylum but to raise awareness about the plight of the Uyghur minority. His lawyer, Chen Chuangchuang, argued fervently that Heng deserved asylum given the "textbook example" of human rights abuses he uncovered and faced.
Guan himself told the Associated Press in an interview that his intention was to make sure his footage would be seen after fleeing China. He claimed police questioned his father three times following the video's release, underscoring the danger Heng faces if returned to China.
In a surprise move, Judge Charles Ouslander ruled in Guan's favor, deeming him a credible witness and establishing his eligibility for asylum. While it remains to be seen whether the Department of Homeland Security will appeal this decision, one thing is clear: Guan Heng has been granted a rare reprieve from the consequences of his bravery.
bad news alert 
Asylum seeker wins big! 
Who knew exposing human rights abuses could be so lucrative? 
The US judge must have had a lot on their plate, but it looks like Guan Heng's case was a slam dunk! 
10% approval rate for asylum seekers? 
That's a whole lotta no. Guess you could say he "detained" attention with that YouTube video 
just thinkin' about this asylum granting rarity in the US, it's like the whole system is tryin' to silence Guan Heng, but he spoke truth to power and now he's safe 
. China's got a serious human rights problem goin' on, especially with those Xinjiang detention facilities 
. But Guan Heng's case, it's like the whole country was watchin' and demanded justice. I hope his lawyer Chen Chuangchuang can keep pushin' for him to stay in the US 
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. We need to be holding these countries accountable for their actions, you know?
! i mean, china's treatment of the uyghur minority is literally insane 
and it's so cool that he got a chance to expose it 
. 10% asylum approval rate? no wayyyyy️ 
glad guan heng was able to get his story out there 
and i'm sure we'll see more of this kind of courage in the future 