Overview
- Judge Charles Ouslander approved asylum for 38-year-old Guan Heng at a hearing in Napanoch, New York, finding his testimony credible and his fear of persecution well founded.
- The judge cited reports that Chinese authorities questioned Guan’s family about his whereabouts and activities as evidence supporting the risk he faces if returned.
- Guan secretly documented detention sites in Xinjiang in 2020 and posted the footage online, adding to reporting by activists who allege widespread abuses that China denies.
- Although he won his case, Guan remains detained because the Department of Homeland Security reserved its right to appeal within 30 days, and the judge urged a prompt decision.
- DHS dropped a December plan to deport him to Uganda after public and congressional attention, and advocates note the grant is unusual given stricter enforcement and a reported 10% asylum approval rate in 2025.