A Chinese whistleblower who documented human rights violations in Xinjiang faces an uncertain future as he fights against deportation from United States custody. Guan Heng, 38, remains detained at the Broome County Correctional Facility in New York while awaiting a critical court decision on his asylum appeal scheduled for Monday.
Guan fled China over four years ago after covertly filming detention facilities in Xinjiang, capturing evidence supporting allegations of widespread rights abuses against ethnic minorities. The Chinese government maintains these facilities are vocational training centers aimed at combating extremism.
His legal troubles began in August when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended him during an operation targeting his housemates outside Albany. Although the Department of Homeland Security initially pursued deportation to Uganda, the plan was abandoned in December following congressional attention and public outcry.
Guan represents one of tens of thousands of asylum seekers caught in intensified deportation efforts under the Trump administration. According to data from California-based nonprofit Mobile Pathways, approximately 170,626 asylum seekers received deportation orders in 2025, with asylum application abandonment rates skyrocketing from 11% to 31%.
Immigration advocates express deep concern over what they describe as the systematic erosion of asylum protections. ‘We are very worried about the number of asylum seekers that will be sent back to extremely dangerous conditions,’ said Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Despite his predicament, Guan maintains faith in American democracy and institutions. He acknowledges understanding the rationale behind stricter immigration policies while appreciating the support from local communities and lawmakers. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has urged Homeland Security to release Guan and approve his asylum request, emphasizing America’s commitment to protecting human rights whistleblowers.
Should he prevail in his legal battle, Guan aspires to contribute meaningfully to American society, hoping to establish connections that would enable him to help others while cherishing the freedom from fear he found in the United States.