Father and Son Deported to China After Detention in NYC

A Chinese man, Fei Zheng, and his six-year-old son, Yuanxin, have been deported to China following a prolonged detention in New York. They arrived in China on the evening of November 26, 2023, after being separated for weeks during the father’s detention by immigration authorities. The information was confirmed by Jennie Spector, a community activist who supported Zheng throughout the ordeal.

According to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Tricia McLaughlin, the agency is pleased to report that the family has returned to their home country. Spector noted that she received confirmation of their arrival from a friend of Zheng’s in China.

Zheng and his son were detained during a routine check-in at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in New York City on November 26. This incident marked Zheng’s third detention since he entered the United States with his son in April, having crossed the border from Mexico. Spector, who has been in contact with the family, mentioned that Zheng expressed fear about returning to China, although she did not provide specific details regarding his concerns.

Zheng was held at the Orange County Correctional Facility, while Yuanxin was placed in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is responsible for unaccompanied migrant children. The separation of the father and son drew considerable backlash from activists, who criticized the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies on families. Yuanxin had just begun first grade at a public school when the detention occurred.

Activists demonstrated their discontent with the situation, as over 200 individuals participated in an anti-ICE rally in Astoria, Queens, earlier this month. Many attendees, including members of Yuanxin’s school community, carried signs with messages such as “Kids Aren’t Pawns” and “Kids Belong In School Not In Detention.”

Spector emphasized that Zheng and his son had no other family in New York, making their situation even more challenging. In an email statement regarding the case, McLaughlin asserted that ICE does not separate families and claimed that parents are given the option to leave with their children or designate a safe person to care for them. She stated that Zheng and his son had received a lawful order of removal as a family unit.

The situation escalated when McLaughlin described Zheng’s behavior during the deportation process, claiming that he had acted disruptively and aggressively, which jeopardized the child’s wellbeing. According to McLaughlin, Zheng even attempted to escape and abandon his son.

“Mr. Zheng had the right and the ability to depart the country as a family and willfully chose not to comply,” McLaughlin said. “To be clear, refusing a judge’s deportation order is a crime.”

As the detention progressed, Spector reported that Zheng decided to stop contesting his immigration case, ultimately opting for compliance with the deportation order to reunite with his son. Reflecting on the situation, Spector expressed sadness over the outcome.

“It’s very sad,” she remarked in a phone interview. “Both he and his son had a lot to offer us. They were both very intelligent people and would have provided a lot to us as a country and also as a community here in New York, and they were just seen as sort of criminals.”

The case has underscored ongoing debates about immigration policy in the United States, particularly regarding family separations and the treatment of individuals seeking asylum. As more community members and activists rally for reform, stories like that of Zheng and Yuanxin highlight the human impact of current immigration practices.