On December 7, 2024, Chinese human rights activist Ni Jinfang’s wife, Duan Chunxia, entered the United States via a circuitous route at the end of September, but soon received a deportation order scheduled for December 9. In response, democratic groups urgently launched an appeal to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), highlighting that if deported back to China, she would face persecution. With the deportation looming just half a workday away, on December 6 (Friday) afternoon, news came that the rescue operation had succeeded – Duan Chunxia’s deportation order had finally been canceled.
The “Rescue Duan Chunxia” Twitter account posted around 5 p.m. on December 6, stating: “Duan Chunxia will not be deported.” The tweet also expressed gratitude to Pastor Fu Xiqiu, lawyer Chen Chuangchuang, all human rights defenders, and everyone for their support and assistance.
Ni Jinfang, in an interview with this news outlet, expressed that his wife’s deportation order had been revoked and she would not be deported, with many individuals providing assistance throughout the rescue process. Regarding the reasons for canceling the deportation order, he mentioned that the authorities primarily considered the grave consequences Duan Chunxia would face if returned to China, where persecution awaited her.
On June 4 of this year, Biden announced strict restrictions on asylum seekers entering the U.S., with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice issuing a “Temporary Final Rule” that tightened the criteria for illegal immigrants applying for asylum and raised the standards for “credible fear interviews.” Against the backdrop of a significant number of Chinese nationals entering the U.S. through circuitous routes in recent years, cooperation between China and the U.S. in deporting illegal immigrants has been reestablished. In the past six months since May, there have been three large-scale charter flights deporting illegal immigrants from China.
Duan Chunxia, Ni Jinfang’s wife, arrived in the U.S. on September 28 via Mexico. Her “credible fear interview” on October 24 failed, she received a court notice on October 28, and on October 30, an immigration judge made a denial decision. On November 29, she received a deportation order scheduled for December 9, along with travel documents for her return to China. She was shuttled between various immigration facilities, preparing to be put on a deportation flight.
According to the “Rescue Duan Chunxia” Twitter account, due to Duan Chunxia’s extremely poor eyesight, when the judge asked her to sign documents, she indicated she couldn’t see properly. At that point, the judge should have stopped, but instead, a fellow detainee in the same room was asked to assist her without being informed that it was for a deportation order. Given Duan Chunxia’s near blindness, all signings should have been overseen by a lawyer, but there was no lawyer present when she signed.
The time to rescue Duan Chunxia was extremely pressing, as there were only five workdays between her receiving the deportation order on November 29 and the scheduled deportation on December 9. Numerous dedicated individuals participated in the relay race of rescuing Duan Chunxia.
Chairman of the Chinese Democratic Party Wang Juntao and others initiated an emergency petition, appealing to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and ICE to consider the risk of persecution Duan Chunxia faced if returned to China and to temporarily halt the deportation.
Ni Jinfang created a rescue Twitter account, continuously appealing for help. Democratic activists and concerned individuals relayed and shared information for the rescue efforts. Information from this rescue account indicated that participants in the rescue efforts testified at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) hearing about the importance of not deporting individuals.
Upon learning that his wife’s deportation order had been canceled, Ni Jinfang was greatly moved. He expressed gratitude to Anna, Wang Juntao, Chen Liqun, Wang Gancheng, Cao Yaxue, Lawyer Wu Shaoping, Lin Shengliang, Luo Shengchun, KK, VVL, Li Jian, Chen Guangcheng, and other compassionate democratic individuals for their united efforts in rescuing Duan Chunxia.