Ni Jinfang, a Chinese human rights activist, is deeply worried about his wife Duan Chunxia’s imminent deportation back to China. Duan, who entered the United States from Mexico in September and has been held in an immigration detention facility, recently received a deportation order set for December 9. Ni fears that if his wife is sent back to China, she will face severe persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He urgently appeals for her rescue.
In an interview with our outlet, Ni revealed that Duan arrived in the U.S. on September 28, failed the credible fear interview on October 24, received a denial decision by an immigration judge on October 30, and was issued a deportation order on November 29. Despite efforts by lawyers to secure her release, Duan’s asylum application in Georgia was rejected. She is currently being transferred between immigration detention facilities, with plans for deportation from Texas looming.
Ni expressed that his wife’s return to China would undoubtedly put her in grave danger. Over the years, Duan has faced threats and harassment from the CCP for supporting Ni’s human rights activism in China. To escape the Party’s oppression, she risked her life to seek refuge in the U.S. Ni implores the U.S. government to consider the persecution his wife has endured and refrain from deporting her, stressing that her return would devastate their family.
Originating from Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, Ni has been a target of CCP intimidation due to his advocacy for land and housing rights. Both Ni and Duan have been involved in supporting human rights lawyers and activists in China, resulting in their placement on the Party’s blacklist. Ni worries that any charges, such as illegal border crossing, could be leveled against his wife upon her return to China, leading to further persecution and loss of freedom.
Following President Biden’s announcement in June 2024 of strict asylum policies limiting entries, the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice have enforced rules tightening criteria for asylum applications, including increasing the standards for credible fear interviews. With a recent trend of Chinese nationals attempting to reach the U.S., cooperation between China and the U.S. in deporting illegal immigrants has increased, culminating in several large-scale deportation operations over the past half year.
Concerns have been raised by individuals familiar with Duan’s situation, highlighting her physical and emotional fragility following the arduous journey to the U.S. and her lack of English proficiency and understanding of legal processes. Advocates urge the U.S. government to recognize Duan’s persecution by the CCP and the dire consequences she could face upon deportation, emphasizing the need for a temporary reprieve.
In response to the impending deportation, a coalition of overseas Chinese human rights activists has launched a petition calling on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to halt Duan’s deportation. The petition stresses Ni’s prolonged persecution by the CCP and the relentless harassment faced by Duan for her unwavering support of his activism.
Ni stated that the joint plea was submitted to ICE and relevant authorities on December 4, arguing that Duan meets the criteria for U.S. asylum due to the persecution they have endured in China. He implores ICE to consider the genuine threat to his wife’s safety posed by the CCP and refrain from deporting her, stressing the urgent need to keep their family united and safe.