Pastor of Underground Church Released from Prison in China
Ezra Jin Mingri, a pastor of a prominent underground church in China, has been released from prison. His release follows a request made by U.S. President Trump to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. (sources: nytimes, bbc, theguardian, npr)
Ezra Jin Mingri was released from prison nearly two months after his detention in October. His case was raised by Trump during a visit to China.
- Ezra Jin Mingri is the founder of the Zion Church in China.
- He was detained as part of a broader crackdown on religious groups in the country.
- Trump mentioned Jin's case during discussions with Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Why it matters
The release highlights the intersection of international diplomacy and religious freedom issues in China.
↓ Congress can act on this
6 bills on this issue are moving right now — and the most active one is H.R.2635: Uyghur Policy Act of 2025.
H.R.2635 · 119th Congress
Uyghur Policy Act of 2025
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About this bill
What H.R.2635 actually does
This story is about China Frees Pastor Detained in Crackdown on Religion After Trump's Urging. This bill would require State to prioritize support for persecuted minority groups in China.
If passed, it would:
- require State to prioritize support for persecuted minority groups in China • direct State to lead coordination efforts for the release of political prisoners in the XUAR.
5 other bills moving on this issue
Take action on any of them individually.
This story is about China Frees Pastor Detained in Crackdown on Religion After Trump's Urging. This bill would require visa and property-blocking sanctions on persons involved in involuntary organ harvesting in China.
If passed, it would
- require visa and property-blocking sanctions on persons involved in involuntary organ harvesting in China • create another active sanctions tool Congress could use against PRC religious-persecution abuses.
This story is about China Frees Pastor Detained in Crackdown on Religion After Trump's Urging. This bill would formally condemn the CCP’s detention of Pastor Ezra and other religious-minority repression in China.
If passed, it would
- formally condemn the CCP’s detention of Pastor Ezra and other religious-minority repression in China • put the House on record in support of international religious freedom in response to this crackdown.
This story is about China Frees Pastor Detained in Crackdown on Religion After Trump's Urging. This bill would push U.S. policy toward treating PRC officials responsible for religious-freedom abuses as sanctionable actors.
If passed, it would
- push U.S. policy toward treating PRC officials responsible for religious-freedom abuses as sanctionable actors • strengthen the basis for pressure tied to detention, torture, forced labor, and restrictions on worship in China.
This story is about China Frees Pastor Detained in Crackdown on Religion After Trump's Urging. This bill would expand sanctions tools for human-rights abuses in Xinjiang.
If passed, it would
- expand sanctions tools for human-rights abuses in Xinjiang • require additional strategies and reporting tied to PRC atrocities and propaganda.
This story is about China Frees Pastor Detained in Crackdown on Religion After Trump's Urging. This bill would expand visa ineligibility for individuals who directed, supported, or carried out religious-freedom violations.
If passed, it would
- expand visa ineligibility for individuals who directed, supported, or carried out religious-freedom violations • make immigration penalties available against non-U.S. perpetrators of severe religious persecution.
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