Uyghur whistleblower faces deportation from US

NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) — A Chinese national who secretly filmed detention camps in Chinese Occupied East Turkistan, providing rare visual evidence of mass repression against Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities, is facing possible deportation from the United States, prompting alarm from rights groups and journalists.

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC), an international advocacy group representing Uyghur communities, said Guan Heng — whose covert footage helped expose China’s vast internment system — is at imminent risk of removal despite pursuing asylum through the U.S. immigration system.

In 2020, Guan secretly recorded large detention compounds in Xinjiang, known to Uyghurs as East Turkistan, at a time when independent access to the region was tightly restricted. 

His footage later circulated among journalists and researchers and contributed to international reporting on China’s mass detention campaign, including investigations that documented the scale and infrastructure of the camps.

After leaving China, Guan traveled through several countries before arriving in the United States in 2021, where he applied for asylum. According to the WUC, he has since obtained a valid work permit and lived openly while his case has been under review.

Despite this, Guan, 38, is currently being held at Broome County Jail in New York after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in August. He appeared at an immigration hearing earlier this week, with deportation proceedings reportedly based on his manner of entry into the country rather than a rejection of his asylum claim.

Family members say the prospect of deportation has caused deep distress, particularly given Guan’s role in exposing state abuses. His mother, Luo Yun, said she fears he would face severe consequences if returned to China.

“I’m really, really worried that things will be very bad for him if he is made to return,” she told Agence France-Presse in an interview. “If he has a chance to remain in the United States, he’ll at least be safe.” She added, “I’m incredibly anxious and upset.”

Rights organizations warn that Guan would face serious retaliation if deported. His documentation of detention facilities and cooperation with international media could expose him to prosecution under China’s sweeping national security laws, which human rights groups say are frequently used to silence dissent. The WUC said members of Guan’s family have already been questioned and harassed by Chinese state security officials.

The case has drawn concern from journalists, legal advocates and China analysts, who say deporting a whistleblower connected to evidence of mass abuses could discourage others from documenting or exposing atrocity crimes.

The United States has formally described China’s treatment of Uyghurs as genocide, a designation that has heightened scrutiny of asylum cases involving individuals linked to evidence of repression. 

Advocacy groups argue that Guan’s case will be closely watched as a test of Washington’s commitment to protecting those who expose human rights violations.

The World Uyghur Congress has urged U.S. authorities to halt deportation proceedings and allow Guan’s asylum case to be fully adjudicated, warning that his removal could place him at risk of imprisonment, torture or enforced disappearance.