Support Alex's Emergency Relocation + Next Steps
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
The Xylom 世林Alex is leaving the US after his work permit renewal was wrongfully denied by Trump's USCIS
$14,733
raised by 288 people
$9,565 goal
What's Next for Alex
Hello, Alex here! Thank you again for the kind words and support.
After extensive discussions with my family and lawyers, I have made the difficult decision to remain in Hong Kong for the time being. I will prepare to apply for an Employment-Based Green Card from my hometown to return to the U.S. by early 2029. Here's what's going to happen to your donations:
- We will create a $3,500 restricted fund to pay for legal fees when the EB-1A Green Card application is filed.
- Because I will no longer be applying for an O-1 visa (the EB-1A visa is much more difficult to get but offers permanent residency), I will expense any visa fees up to $2,965 during the application process. Any unused funds will be returned to The Xylom's general operations fund on the day my EB-1A application is filed.
- If my U.S. visa is approved, I will receive a one-time $3,100 stipend for flights ($1,600) and moving fees ($1,500).
In the unlikely event that my visa application is rejected by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the $3,100 earmarked for flights and moving fees will be released from its restrictions and go directly toward The Xylom's general operations fund.
- As previously announced, all donations beyond our initial goal have already gone directly toward The Xylom's general operations fund.
Once again, thank you so much for your generosity and stay tuned for more reporting from our team!
We have some bad news regarding our Founder, Publisher, and Editor: Alex has been left with no choice but to depart the United States for his hometown of Hong Kong, after the Trump administration wrongfully denied his work permit renewal.
As an Atlanta-based multilingual and multimedia investigative reporter at the only Asian American-run news outlet dedicated to health, climate, and environmental coverage, Alex weaves deeply reported narratives at the intersection of democratic backsliding and environmental justice with original photography and open-source intelligence. His groundbreaking coverage has been recognized with an Atlanta Press Club Award, an Anthem Award Silver Prize, and two Nonprofit News Award nominations.
While we have no proof that recent events have been politically motivated, for the second straight year, the U.S. has reached an all-time low in the World Press Freedom Index. Last year, another Atlanta-based independent reporter, Mario Guevara, was arrested while covering the "No Kings" protest, detained by ICE for over 100 days, and deported to El Salvador.
Alex is committed to covering how Donald Trump and friends have made the world poorer, sicker, and dirtier from wherever he may be based next, but he needs your help. We are looking for 100 champions of press freedom to support emergency relocation costs, legal fees, and Alex's colleagues who are covering some of his day-to-day responsibilities during this difficult transition.
In these times, can we count on you to defend our constitutional right to press freedom?