Pastor Ezra Jin freed after U.S. President Trump’s appeal to China

Ezra Jin, founder of Beijing’s underground Zion Church, was released from detention in China in early July 2026 and flown to Los Angeles, where he was reunited with his wife and children. He had been arrested in October 2025 together with 17 other church leaders during a large‑scale crackdown on unregistered Christian congregations.

U.S. President Donald Trump raised Jin’s case during his May state visit to Beijing, telling Chinese President Xi Jinping that the pastor’s situation should be “strongly considered.” Chinese officials later said the release was a goodwill gesture linked to the high‑level talks. Jin’s family and advocacy groups thanked both Trump and Xi, calling the release a “miracle” and a possible signal of improved religious‑freedom conditions.

Human‑rights organisations noted that at least eight Zion Church members remain detained and urged continued pressure for their release. The episode highlights ongoing tensions over religious freedom in China and the diplomatic leverage the United States is willing to exercise in such cases.