Chinese Asylum Seeker Guan Heng Released After Months of Detention

Fri Feb 06 2026 01:22:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Guan Heng, who uncovered human rights abuses in China, has been granted asylum and released from federal detention. His release highlights the challenges faced by asylum seekers in recent times.

Guan Heng, a Chinese national known for exposing human rights violations in Xinjiang, was released from federal detention after being granted asylum. His case highlights the ongoing struggles of asylum seekers during the Trump administration and the broader implications of immigration enforcement policies. Guan expressed relief at being reunited with his mother after months in detention, while advocates call for transparency in such cases.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Guan Heng, a Chinese national who exposed human rights abuses in his homeland, has been released from federal detention more than five months after being swept up in immigration enforcement operations.

Guan was released and reunited with his mother on Tuesday, nearly a week after being granted asylum by an immigration judge due to well-founded fears of persecution if returned to China.

“I’m in a great mood,” Guan, 38, told The Associated Press. “I didn’t feel the excitement yesterday. I felt I was still in prison, but today many friends have come to see me.”

Currently residing temporarily in Binghamton, New York, Guan expressed he has not yet begun thinking about his long-term future.

His mother, Luo Yun, who traveled from Taiwan to support her son, shared her relief: “For five and a half months I didn’t sleep one good sleep, but today I feel assured.”

This case marks a rare victory for asylum seekers under the recent administration, as Guan faced the possibility of deportation to Uganda before the Department of Homeland Security reversed its plans following public outcry about his situation.

Representative Ro Khanna remarked that Guan’s lengthy detention should never have been necessary for a just resolution. “His release is a reminder that the rule of law and our moral duty to protect those who expose human rights abuses go hand in hand,” Khanna said.

Guan secretly filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang in 2020, helping to document the human rights violations faced by the Uyghur population. The Chinese government has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that they are conducting vocational training programs.

The U.S. State Department condemned the Chinese government’s actions against the Uyghurs, referencing ongoing human rights concerns. Guan’s journey to safety included perilous boat trips, proving his determination to bring awareness to the plight of persecuted individuals in his homeland.