• A Chinese dance group, banned by the Chinese government, is under a criminal investigation in the U.S. Shen Yun, the group, is accused of human trafficking, visa fraud and labor issues.
• The group has denied the allegations and said it holds onto passports for safekeeping.
• Shen Yun is currently on a world tour while the investigation is ongoing.

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An anti-communist Chinese dance group based in New York is under criminal investigation for possible visa fraud and labor issues. This inquiry comes as the company already faces accusations of human trafficking.

Shen Yun, run by the Falun Gong religious movement, promotes an anti-communist message and is banned by the Chinese government.

What led to the current federal investigation?

The New York Times reported last year, that the group exploited young performers by making them work long hours and paying them little to nothing.

A former performer also filed a lawsuit in November 2024 accusing the company of trafficking vulnerable children to work for less than minimum wage and exploiting the dancers through threats and public shaming to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

Now, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the State Department and federal prosecutors in Manhattan are looking into the company’s labor practices. That includes its working and living conditions and whether performers were directed to smuggle cash into the U.S. when returning from overseas. 

Several performers interviewed as part of the investigation also said they could not come and go freely from the group’s guarded compound and their passports were confiscated when they joined.

How is Shen Yun responding?

The group said it holds onto the student’s passports for safekeeping but they “always return the passports when requested.”

Shen Yun also said state and federal laws do not apply to their student performers because they are receiving a learning opportunity and they don’t consider them working employees.

The group’s headquarters includes a boarding school and college where performers can live and study.

Also part of the investigation is whether the group’s leaders arranged romantic relationships for its performers.

The Times reported in August 2024 that Yun’s leaders tried to set up foreign students with American students for visa purposes.

A representative for Shen Yun said the company intends to cooperate fully with the investigation.

“We operate with integrity and remain committed to upholding the highest artistic and ethical standards,” Ying Cheh, a Shen Yun representative, said.

Shen Yun’s current world tour began in December and is scheduled to travel to five continents, ending in May.