He Made a Daring Escape From China. Then His Real Troubles Began.

The Chinese government has imposed prison sentences ranging from six to 20 years for other Uyghurs who crossed the border illegally in 2013 and 2014, according to a conviction database we obtained from a public-security bureau.

So, a kid was born outside the system, to parents that were basically undesirables to the Chinese government. So they try to leave the country. Why would China fight so hard to get them back? I don't get their motives with their people (Uighur and otherwise) that leave the country.

Is there a non paywalled version of the article?