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December 19, 2025 – China/USA –
A Chinese citizen-journalist who fled to the United States in fear of retaliation for documenting alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims has had part of his deportation threat rescinded, but his legal status remains unresolved as he continues to pursue asylum. Guan Heng, a 38-year-old journalist from Henan Province known for filming footage of alleged detention facilities in China’s Xinjiang region, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August 2025 after entering the country without legal status. He has been held in a New York detention facility while seeking asylum, a process that could take several years to conclude.
Earlier this month, U.S. authorities issued a proposed deportation order that would have sent Guan to Uganda under a policy allowing third-country resettlement. Human rights advocates and legal observers raised alarm, warning that deportation to Uganda — where China holds significant political and economic influence — could quickly lead to his repatriation to China, where he would likely face persecution for his reporting on sensitive issues. Critics, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), described the plan as a troubling shift in U.S. asylum policy that could undermine the country’s historical role as a refuge for journalists fleeing repression.
On December 19, 2025, Guan’s lawyer confirmed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withdrew the specific order to deport him to Uganda. While this development was welcomed by his legal team and press freedom proponents, it does not fully eliminate the possibility of deportation to another country, and Guan remains in detention pending further legal proceedings. A bond hearing is expected in the coming weeks, though the asylum process before an immigration judge may extend for years.
Support for Guan’s case has also emerged from U.S. lawmakers who argue that the United States has a moral obligation to protect individuals who expose human rights violations. A letter from a senior official in the U.S. State Department acknowledged Guan’s work documenting alleged abuses in Xinjiang and underscored the dangers he faces from the Chinese government, which has denied accusations of abuse.
Press freedom advocates continue to call on U.S. authorities to allow Guan to remain in the United States while his asylum claim is adjudicated, emphasising that deportation to any country where he could face persecution would violate international protections for journalists and asylum seekers.
Reference –
Chinese citizen journalist seeking asylum in US faces deportation
