• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • FOX 40
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
    • Red Cross: Get Help
  • Contest
  • Keeping It Real
  • Programming
    • FOX 40 TV Guide
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
    • WATCH STREAMING NEWS NOW
    • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
    • CHURCH PROGRAMMING AND DIRECTORY
  • About WDBD
    • Contact Us
    • Job Listings
  • Advertise With Us
  • MS Help Wanted
WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD Television for Jackson, MS

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
  • Realizing DPP
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
    • Politics
    • Health
    • red cross
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

Two Americans held in China accused of illegally moving people across country borders

Two American citizens have been detained in China on “bogus” charges of illegally moving people across country borders — and they could end up imprisoned there “for the next few months or years,” a U.S.-based educational organization is warning.

Jacob Harlan and Alyssa Petersen of China Horizons were arrested in the eastern province of Jiangsu in late September, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang announced Thursday. They are suspected of organizing others to illegally cross the border, a crime the Associated Press says carries a minimum sentence of two years, with punishment as severe as life imprisonment under certain circumstances.

“Because of the changes that are taking place in China right now, [China Horizons’] owner, Jacob Harlan, and the director, Alyssa Petersen, have been detained in China for 13 days now and may be so for the next few months or years,” the Idaho-based organization – which helps place English teachers in Chinese schools – posted on its Facebook page last Friday.

Jacob Harlan, left, and Alyssa Petersen, of the U.S.-based educational organization China Horizons, have been arrested in China. (Facebook/GoFundMe)

Jacob Harlan, left, and Alyssa Petersen, of the U.S.-based educational organization China Horizons, have been arrested in China. (Facebook/GoFundMe)

“They are being charged for bogus crimes and their families are working on getting them international lawyers to help them get back home to the states,” it added.

FEDEX PILOT DETAINED IN CHINA BEFORE COMMERCIAL FLIGHT

China Horizons also announced in the post that they are shutting down after being in business for 17 years, because of “increasing political and economic problems” between the two world superpowers.

Both Harlan and Petersen were released on bail Thursday, Reuters reported, yet they are awaiting trial. It was not immediately clear which country the pair are accused of trying to move people in or out of.

“The department handling the case has informed the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai in a timely manner, arranged U.S. diplomats to conduct consular visits and protected the legitimate rights and interests of the two,” Geng said at a press briefing.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing confirmed that it’s aware of the detentions and the charges brought against the two but gave no further details.

“We take seriously our responsibility to assist U.S. citizens abroad and are monitoring the situation,” an embassy spokesman told the Associated Press.

CALIFORNIA MAN ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR CHINA, OFFICIALS SAY

A pair of GoFundMe sites set up for the two has raised nearly $40,000 toward their legal defense and other expenses.

Harlan’s site says he is a father of five from Utah who was taken from his hotel room on the morning of Sept. 28, along with his 8-year-old daughter, Viara.

It said Viara Harlan was allowed to make a brief call to her mother in Utah after 48 hours, but not permitted to disclose her location or say anything about what had happened. Police later allowed her to fly home to the U.S. accompanied by a family friend, according to the site.

Petersen’s page says she was held incommunicado for two weeks after being taken away by police and was located only after her family went to the State Department for assistance.

“We received information that she is doing OK. She wakes up when told, she goes to sleep when told. She spends her day in a jail cell or walking in a circle counting steps,” the site said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

While the charge of illegally moving people across country borders generally applies to human traffickers, it has also been used in the past against those accused of conducting missionary work in China, which the officially atheist communist government strictly forbids, the Associated Press reports.

Last year, a U.S. missionary, the Rev. John Sanqiang Cao, was sentenced to seven years in prison on the same charge.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Primary Sidebar


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Follow Us On Facebook


Trending Now

they-risked-their-lives-for-others:-author-richard-hurowitz-remembers-unsung-heroes-of-the-holocaust

They risked their lives for others: Author Richard Hurowitz remembers unsung heroes of the Holocaust

desantis-weighs-in,-trump-doesn’t,-in-gop-brawl-between-mcdaniel-and-dhillon-to-chair-the-rnc

DeSantis weighs in, Trump doesn’t, in GOP brawl between McDaniel and Dhillon to chair the RNC

desantis-team-hits-back-at-politico-for-‘intentionally-misleading’-headline:-‘media-malpractice’

DeSantis team hits back at Politico for ‘intentionally misleading’ headline: ‘Media malpractice’

world-champion-‘speedcuber’-claims-the-violin-has-aided-in-his-success-with-rubik’s-cubes

World champion ‘speedcuber’ claims the violin has aided in his success with Rubik’s Cubes

ram’s-secret-small-pickup-truck-spotted-and-more-autos-stories

Ram’s secret small pickup truck spotted and more autos stories


LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES

Rita Brent and Angie Thomas headline Women of Vision event in Jackson

Mississippi Senate offers proposals designed to curb crime

Capital murder and shooting suspects appear in court

Catalytic converter thefts continue to plague Belhaven neighborhood

New cyber unit director lays out plans as lawmakers craft its initial budget

More Local News

NATIONAL HEADLINES

house-republicans-seeking-to-restrict-presidential-use-of-nation’s-emergency-oil-stockpile

House Republicans seeking to restrict presidential use of nation’s emergency oil stockpile

For the second time this month, House Republicans are seeking to restrict presidential use of the nation’s emergency oil stockpile — a proposal that has already drawn a White House veto threat.A GOP bill set for a vote Friday would require the government to … Read Full Report about House Republicans seeking to restrict presidential use of nation’s emergency oil stockpile

cassie-carli’s-ex-boyfriend-indicted-in-alabama-for-kidnapping-resulting-in-her-death

Cassie Carli’s ex-boyfriend indicted in Alabama for kidnapping resulting in her death

The ex-boyfriend of Florida mother Cassie Carli, who was found dead in Alabama in April 2022, was indicted by a federal grand jury on a new charge this week.Marcus Spanevelo, 35, is now charged with kidnapping resulting in death, according to a Wednesday … Read Full Report about Cassie Carli’s ex-boyfriend indicted in Alabama for kidnapping resulting in her death

twitter-users-mock-new-list-of-‘dehumanizing’-labels-to-avoid:-‘the-ap-is-run-by-children’

Twitter users mock new list of ‘dehumanizing’ labels to avoid: ‘The AP is run by children’

The Associated Press Stylebook was once again mocked on social media after its latest suggestion to do away with terms involving the word "the" to avoid "dehumanizing" people.The AP Stylebook’s Twitter account, which usually posts guidelines on reporting, … Read Full Report about Twitter users mock new list of ‘dehumanizing’ labels to avoid: ‘The AP is run by children’

virginia-library-paying-‘1619-project’-creator-$35,350-for-‘hour-long’-speech-on-controversial-work

Virginia library paying ‘1619 Project’ creator $35,350 for ‘hour-long’ speech on controversial work

A major Virginia public library system is reportedly paying "1619 Project" creator and anti-racist author Nikole Hannah-Jones over $35,000 dollars for just one upcoming, hour-long speaking engagement.According to the Fairfax County Times in Northern Virginia, … Read Full Report about Virginia library paying ‘1619 Project’ creator $35,350 for ‘hour-long’ speech on controversial work

flashback:-john-kennedy-in-2017-grilled-a-trump-judicial-nominee-for-lack-of-legal-experience;-dems-applauded

Flashback: John Kennedy in 2017 grilled a Trump judicial nominee for lack of legal experience; Dems applauded

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., caught the media's attention this week after grilling one of President Biden's judicial nominees who was unable to answer basic questions about the Constitution. But that's not the first time a nominee has been scorched by Kennedy, a … Read Full Report about Flashback: John Kennedy in 2017 grilled a Trump judicial nominee for lack of legal experience; Dems applauded

Footer

Public File Info

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact RaMona Alexander by phone at
601-948-3333 or by email at RaMona.Alexander@fox40tv.com

»WDBD FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning

 

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
  • Realizing DPP
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
    • Politics
    • Health
    • red cross
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

CATEGORIES

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • FOX 40 Weekly Sports Lineup
  • Realizing DPP
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
    • Politics
    • Health
    • red cross
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?
GRIT TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo
GRIT-TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo

Copyright © 2023 · American Spirit Media LLC · WDBD TV · Jackson MS · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy