A Chinese man who documented sites of alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China is now fighting to avoid removal from the United States after being detained by immigration authorities.
Detention and a looming hearing
Guan Heng, 38, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August. He appeared for an immigration hearing in New York on Monday, where a judge set his next court date for January.
His lawyer, Chen Chuangchuang, stated that the judge is considering whether Guan should be sent to Uganda to process his asylum claim, as that country has an agreement to accept certain individuals removed from the US. However, Chen vowed to challenge this, arguing there is a significant risk Guan could ultimately be sent back to China from Uganda.
Flight from China and family fears
Guan's legal troubles stem from his activities in China. In late 2021, he published a 20-minute video online detailing his travels in China's north-western Xinjiang region. He visited locations identified by investigations as detention facilities for Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.
Beijing has faced international accusations of detaining over a million Uyghurs and other Muslims since 2017, allegations it vehemently denies, stating its policies combat extremism and foster development.
After posting the video, Guan left China and eventually entered the United States. His mother, Luo Yun, told AFP she learned of the video's contents only later and that her son had indicated he did not plan to return to China.
"I'm really, really worried that things will be very bad for him if he is made to return," Luo Yun said. "If he has a chance to remain in the United States, he'll at least be safe."
International concern and ongoing detention
The case has drawn attention from human rights advocates. The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission warned on social media that Guan "would likely be persecuted" if returned to China and urged he be given every opportunity to stay in a place of refuge.
Guan's mother also revealed that family members in mainland China have been questioned by authorities about their ties to him following the video's publication. "I'm heartbroken," she said. "I'm not only crying for my child, but the situation that our family is facing."
Guan is currently being held in a Broome County facility in upstate New York, according to supporters, and his name appears on an online ICE detainee list. His fate now rests on the outcome of his immigration proceedings, with his lawyer preparing to argue against any path that could lead to his return to China.
