Haoxiang Gao, a inexperienced card holder 20-year-old College of Michigan Ann Arbor pupil from China who was being prosecuted for illegally voting within the 2024 election in Ann Arbor now faces a brand new cost of flight to keep away from prosecution after it was revealed in court docket this week he fled the U.S. again to China on January 19 (the earlier than President Trump was sworn into workplace) utilizing a secret passport in his identify after beforehand delivering his identified passport as a part of his pre-trial launch situations.
The 19-year-old pupil, Haoxiang Gao, was court-ordered to stay in Michigan whereas on a $5,000 bond for the state criminal charges he confronted for the unlawful vote.
Gao boarded Delta Flight #389 from Detroit Worldwide Airport to Shanghai on Jan. 19, in accordance with a federal case that was lately unsealed.
The coed was compelled to give up his passport when he was arraigned on the unique costs of false swearing to register/vote and unqualified elector trying to vote on Nov. 8, 2024.
His passport with a serial quantity ending in “1332” was surrendered to authorities on Nov. 1, in accordance with the federal prison criticism.
Gao, nonetheless, used a passport in his identify with the serial quantity ending in “7137” to cross by airport safety and board the flight to Shanghai, in accordance with the criticism.
The Detroit Information posted a picture of Gao in a submit in regards to the paper’s report on his fleeing the U.S. (behind a paywall):
Scoop w/@CraigDMauger The brand new prison case supplied the untold backstory of what occurred to 19-year-old UM pupil Haoxiang Gao and confirmed that he managed to go away the U.S. regardless of surrendering a passport https://t.co/UgvzC8fSmS by way of @detroitnews
— Robert Snell (@robertsnellnews) May 30, 2025
Gao was a no present for an April 24 possible trigger listening to, reported VoteBeat (excerpt):
Haoxiang Gao, 20, a Chinese language nationwide, is going through two felony costs that he solid a poll regardless of not being eligible and lied on the voter registration type. He was scheduled for a probable-cause listening to however didn’t seem. The listening to had been delayed repeatedly over the previous a number of months.
It’s not clear the place Gao is. Ok. Orlando Simón, Gao’s lawyer and a employees member on the College of Michigan’s Scholar Authorized Companies, declined to remark Thursday, and college officers didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. A voicemail left with the Washtenaw County prosecutor’s workplace Friday morning was not instantly returned.
The bench warrant, which authorizes an arrest, is an escalation in a case that has highlighted a loophole within the state’s same-day registration system, prompting lawmakers and state officers to suggest new options to make sure it received’t occur once more.
The choice, made by Decide J. Cedric Simpson of District 14A Courtroom, occurred after a bench convention with Gao’s lawyer.
If convicted, Gao may withstand 9 years in jail and potential deportation.
Gao apparently selected to self-deport with out being requested to by Tom Homan.
The Michigan Enjoyer did a deep dive on Gao’s case in March, together with his police interviews. Gao stated he realized he shouldn’t have voted and contacted officers. Gao was born in China, however his household moved between the U.S. and China a number of occasions whereas he was rising up (excerpt):
Haoxiang Gao, the College of Michigan pupil and Chinese language nationwide who voted illegally final 12 months in Ann Arbor, advised authorities he recognized as an American citizen moments earlier than casting a poll.
Gao, who goes by Neil, was not a brand new arrival from China who stumbled right into a voting sales space. He attended elementary faculty in Seattle after being born in China. His household then returned to China, after which moved to Florida earlier than his junior 12 months of highschool.
Gao is a inexperienced card holder, however he’s not an American citizen and isn’t eligible to vote.
On October 27, 2024, Gao determined he was citizen sufficient to vote that day, in accordance with police stories obtained by Michigan Enjoyer by way of public information request.
In police interviews, Gao claims he thought his standing as a inexperienced card holder certified him to vote.
Gao’s vote couldn’t be separated from the others and was counted as a legal vote.
America doesn’t have an extradition treaty with China.
