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Guan Heng China asylum immigration.

Chinese national who exposed rights abuses is freed from US detention after being granted asylum

February 4, 2026

Guan Heng, a Chinese asylum seeker who exposed human rights abuses in his homeland, has been released after more than five months in federal detention.  Guan said Wednesday he was “in a great mood” after being released and reunited with his mother the day before. It was a rare successful outcome for an asylum seeker since President Donald Trump returned to office and launched his mass immigration enforcement operation.He was granted asylum last week, but his release was delayed because the Department of Homeland Security said it reserved the right to appeal. DHS, which has 30 days to appeal the court’s Jan. 28 ruling, did not immediately respond to a request to confirm if it has decided not to appeal.

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Chinese national who exposed human rights abuses in his homeland is granted asylum to remain in US

January 28, 2026

A U.S. immigration judge has granted asylum to Guan Heng, who exposed human rights abuses in China and fears persecution if sent back. Guan arrived in the U.S. illegally in 2021 and has been in custody since August. The Department of Homeland Security initially planned to deport him to Uganda but dropped the plan after his plight raised public concern. Guan in 2020 secretly filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, adding to a body of evidence of what activists say are widespread rights abuses in the Chinese region. The immigration judge ruled on Wednesday that he had established his eligibility for asylum. Guan remains jailed in New York pending a possible appeal by the Department of Homeland Security.

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