An Qiang on his first day volunteering at the June 4th Tiananmen Memorial Museum earlier this year. (Credit: An Qiang)
An Qiang vividly remembers his excitement on the train to New York City’s June 4th Tiananmen Memorial Museum on April 28 — his first day as a volunteer. The Midtown Manhattan museum, a namesake of the Hong Kong institution that closed in 2021 due to Beijing’s national security law, opened on June 4, 2023. It is now the only museum preserving the memory of the Tiananmen Massacre and commemorating the pro-democracy students and civilians killed in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989.
An, a 35-year-old undocumented migrant and used-car salesman earning $4,000 a month, volunteers on Sundays without pay, assisting with visitor registration and general upkeep.
“Some people might think this [volunteering] is useless, but it’s worth it to let more people know about the Tiananmen Massacre,” An said.
He is among a record number of Chinese citizens who have risked their lives to enter the United States illegally in recent years. Many endured a dangerous, month-long journey, by bus and on foot, from Ecuador all the way to the U.S.-Mexico border, a route known in Chinese as “zou xian” or “walking the line.”
An said he arrived in the U.S. in July 2023 and turned himself in to border officials. After being released from detention, he applied for political asylum and received a work permit in six months. While a work permit allows a person to work legally, it does not grant legal status, said Chen Chuang Chuang, an immigration lawyer in Flushing. People in An’s situation are still considered undocumented until their asylum claim is approved.
Chen Li Qun, an executive member of the museum, said that 21 of its 30 volunteers are “zou xian” migrants. According to Chen, some seek a sense of purpose in a new country, while others volunteer due to the flexible working hours or a commitment to preserving history.
Among them are Shen Wei Hao, 27, and Li, 35, who requested that only his last name be used for this article. Shen is currently looking for a job, while Li earns $4,000 a month working at a restaurant.
While looking for a paid job, Shen is currently volunteering at the June 4th Tiananmen Memorial Museum. (Credit: Huiyee Chiew)
An, Shen and Li said they risked their lives for democracy rather than financial gain. Shen never considered leaving China until he was detained and repeatedly harassed by police officials after participating in the 2022 White Paper Movement against harsh COVID-19 lockdowns in China.
Li, who gave only his last name for fear of repercussions for his relatives back in China, said his large family suffered heavy penalties under the one-child policy. He was also upset with the oppressive COVID-19 lockdown measures. He recalled that at one point, officials delivered supplies to his rural hometown in Hubei province using garbage trucks.
“You can only leave because you can’t fight the government,” Li said.
According to government data, the U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 36,920 Chinese citizens illegally crossing the Southwest border in the first 11 months of the 2024 fiscal year, up from 430 in 2021. Chen, the immigration lawyer, partly attributes the surge to increased restrictions on tourist visas for Chinese citizens amid rising political tensions. Some Chinese citizens interviewed by Columbia News Service also cited China’s zero-tolerance policy during the pandemic, financial pressures and political oppression as reasons for fleeing to the U.S.
“I knew I might die on the route, but rather than dying from depression, I would rather die pursuing democracy and freedom,” An said.
Originally from Shaanxi province, he first dismissed the Tiananmen massacre as propaganda until he bypassed China’s internet firewall and saw a documentary about the event on YouTube.
“Just imagine someone showing you a video of aliens invading the White House,” he said. “You’d think it’s ridiculous and wouldn’t believe it.”
The final straw came when he learned that his sister had been given away under the one-child policy, and after he endured a month-long pandemic lockdown with a box of ham sausages as his only food. He ultimately gave up his car-maintenance business, spending approximately $40,000 of his savings on his journey to the U.S.
While facing uncertain legal status in the United States, the three volunteers said their experiences in China have led them to reflect on the value of democracy. Volunteering at the museum is one way to contribute to it. Li also hopes that the work might help with his asylum application.
“The work is so meaningful,” An said. “It’s like lighting small candles for others.”
About the author(s)
Huiyee Chiew is a Stabile Investigative Fellow at Columbia Journalism School. Her reporting focuses on human rights and social justice issues.