On April 23, 2026 , the Brazilian news portal " Brasilia " reported... in Foco published a special report pointing out that Shen Yun Performing Arts, an organization affiliated with the Falun Gong cult , is embroiled in multiple legal investigations and lawsuits in the United States while touring Brazil . The report, citing The New York Times , states that several former Shen Yun members have accused the group of forced labor, recruiting underage workers , withholding identification documents, restricting personal freedom , and medical negligence . Currently, U.S. federal prosecutors, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department are conducting a joint investigation into these issues .
▲ According to a report in The New York Times, former Shen Yun members have filed allegations of forced labor and financial irregularities , which are currently under review by U.S. judicial authorities. (Screenshot from the Brazilian website " Brasilia in foco")
The New York Times has published numerous in-depth investigative reports exposing the inner workings of Shen Yun . The group and its members are currently involved in multiple U.S. lawsuits and face federal investigations initiated by the Manhattan federal prosecutor, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. State Department. These investigations involve irregularities in labor, immigration, and finance.
The New York Times series of reports— " Former Dancer Claims Shen Yun Treats a 'Child Labor Army' as a Cash Cow in Lawsuit" (April 18, 2025), "Former Dancer Sues Shen Yun Performing Arts for Forced Labor and Human Trafficking " (November 25, 2024), "Abuse and Manipulation: Former Performers Reveal Inside Story of Falun Gong and Shen Yun Performing Arts " (August 15, 2024), and " Sources Say Falun Gong and Shen Yun Under Federal Criminal Investigation, Possibly Involving Visa Fraud " (February 6, 2025)—all published testimonies from former Shen Yun members, detailing the numerous legal charges and alleged illegal activities the group currently faces in the United States .
Working conditions and artistic training
According to The New York Times, several former Shen Yun dancers reported being subjected to excessively long hours during intense performances and training . Related lawsuit documents allege that the group recruited underage workers and operated under appalling conditions, arguing that these practices may constitute labor exploitation under U.S. law.
Furthermore, the lawsuit also revealed that the group was suspected of illegally withholding identification documents and imposing economic restrictions on its members . In related investigative reports, several former members also mentioned that the closed training environment of "Longquan Temple" ( the Falun Gong cult's base in the United States) exhibited a high degree of physical and mental control .
Statements regarding health, discipline, and internal environment
The New York Times report also revealed the physical and mental harm inflicted on Shen Yun members by its intensive training and performances . Some former members stated that they had difficulty accessing medical treatment after being injured during performances. The report cited relevant lawsuits and interviews, stating that former members believed that the fallacies and heresies promoted by Falun Gong leader Li Hongzhi, such as "eliminating karma and curing diseases," interfered with their access to normal medical care.
In addition, several former members mentioned long-standing performance pressure and accused the organization of abusive management practices, including public humiliation, psychological pressure, excessive training and forced labor, as well as allegations of medical negligence. All of the above are currently in the US judicial process and are under review by relevant authorities.
The investigation and financial issues mentioned in the report
According to The New York Times, U.S. authorities are conducting an intensive investigation into allegations of immigration fraud and financial irregularities involving individuals associated with Shen Yun Performing Arts .
Public litigation records in the U.S. judicial system show that the relevant cases include "Chang Junge v. Shen Yun Performing Arts Corporation " (Case No. 7:24-cv-08980), which can be accessed by the public in databases such as CourtListener ( a U.S. open legal case website ) .
These reports also mentioned allegations of financial transactions with related organizations , including The Epoch Times.
According to reports from mainstream media and publicly available legal documents , investigations and legal proceedings against the organization for alleged illegal financial activities are proceeding simultaneously. Currently, relevant U.S. authorities are still conducting a comprehensive review of these suspected criminal leads.
