On June 9, 2024, Ziming Wang, a 23-year-old college student from Los Angeles, set out on what he thought would be a memorable road trip with his girlfriend and their three hamsters. His journey from San Diego to New York City included stops in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but what began as an adventure quickly spiraled into a nightmare that would see him detained for nearly 30 days under suspicion of human smuggling.
Wang, who boasts a following of 20,000 on TikTok, decided to film a segment at the U.S.-Mexico border at the request of his fans. Instead of the more common routes like San Ysidro or Tijuana, he opted for a less-traveled area along State Route 94, hoping to capture more authentic border landscapes and the experiences of those crossing.
During his exploration, he encountered a distressing scene: around three dozen dehydrated and injured Chinese migrants hiding from U.S. Border Patrol agents. Wang unwittingly became a translator for the agents, helping to bring water and medical supplies to those in need.
His involvement with the migrants took a turn when he and his girlfriend decided to assist three specific women they found in the brush. However, as they attempted to drive the women to a nearby shelter, they were quickly surrounded by Border Patrol agents who arrested them.
In a contrasting account, Agent Guy Davis reported seeing Wang driving a black Tesla that matched the description of a vehicle suspected of picking up migrants who had crossed the border illegally. He claimed to have witnessed migrants meeting Wang near the car, which led to the arrest.
Unfortunately for Wang, what followed was a grueling series of events stemming from a misunderstanding. During an interview with Border Patrol, Wang attempted to clarify that he had not gone to the border to pick up family members, but rather to support the migrants. He insisted that a passport photo found on his phone belonged to a friend and was from a previous year, asserting that the officers had misinterpreted the situation.
Despite his claims of innocence, Wang was detained in solitary confinement for ten days at Campo Station in Pine Valley. He described a harrowing experience where he had little access to food or communication, living on two energy bars daily and shivering on concrete floors.
While his girlfriend and hamsters were released shortly after their arrest, Wang remained in confinement, deprived of basic human needs and contact with the outside world. Eventually, he was transferred to a crowded detention center where he faced even harsher living conditions.
His experience in immigration detention was marred by inadequate food, medical neglect, and emotional distress. After nearly a month, he finally had a court appearance where his case was dismissed due to a lack of evidence supporting the smuggling allegations. The judge’s confusion regarding his situation highlighted the absurdity of the situation, asking, “Have you ever heard of a human trafficker traveling with his girlfriend and three hamsters?”
Wang’s attorney argued that the details did not align with legal definitions of smuggling, as Wang had not transported anyone across the border. The case was officially dismissed, marking a bittersweet end to a traumatic ordeal.
Despite his release, Wang faced significant repercussions from his experience. After being let go on July 4th, he struggled with sleep disturbances and feelings of disillusionment towards the American immigration system. He had lost nearly all his belongings, including his car and phones, and spent months trying to recover them, an endeavor further complicated by the bureaucratic nature of the system.
Immigration experts highlight that cases like Wang’s are emblematic of a chaotic and confusing immigration process in the United States. Many detainees, including Wang, do not have access to the necessary resources or language skills to navigate the complexities of their situations, leading to dire consequences.
Wang’s story highlights the psychological toll of the immigration detention system on individuals caught in its web. After being released, he expressed his disillusionment, stating, “If everything starts over, I will choose to leave the United States. I will never want to come back.”
Ultimately, Ziming Wang’s experience raises essential questions about the practices and policies of immigration enforcement and the need for reform to prevent similar injustices from occurring in the future.
image source from：https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/06/17/he-wanted-to-record-a-tiktok-but-ended-up-in-immigration-detention/
