Ezra Jin Mingri calls on Trump to push Xi to free prisoners of conscience

Ezra Jin Mingri, a pastor and founder of an underground church in China, called for the release of individuals imprisoned for their religious beliefs during a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing on Sept. 22. Speaking with his daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, acting as translator, Jin expressed concern for eight fellow church leaders who remain in prison.

Jin, a former prisoner of conscience, was released from imprisonment and reunited with his family in the United States shortly before Independence Day. He noted that while he is enjoying freedom with his family, he continues to worry about those still detained.

The remarks come as President Donald Trump prepares to host Xi Jinping for a state visit in Washington. Advocates are urging the president to use the meeting to push for the release of prisoners of conscience and political prisoners, such as Jimmy Lai, a Catholic pro-democracy campaigner in Hong Kong serving a 20-year sentence. Jin told members of Congress he hopes the meeting between the two leaders results in a breakthrough regarding human rights in China.