Washington, March 27 (NationPress) A diverse coalition of US lawmakers is calling on President Donald Trump to advocate for the freedom of a detained Christian pastor during his upcoming meeting with President Xi Jinping next month. They highlight what they describe as the "persistent unjust imprisonment and oppression" faced by religious minorities in China.

In a letter addressed to Trump, Senators James Lankford, Ted Budd, and Tim Kaine, along with members from both political parties, urged the President to address the situation of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri. They assert he was "arbitrarily detained on October 10, 2025, with other leaders of the Zion Church by the People’s Republic of China (PRC)."

The legislators stated, "We encourage you to advocate for their release and urge the PRC to permit Mr. Jin to leave China. Additionally, we ask you to raise concerns regarding the ongoing unjust imprisonment and persecution of Christians, Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other religious and ethnic minority groups throughout China."

This appeal comes ahead of a scheduled US-China summit, where discussions on human rights are anticipated to coincide with strategic and economic topics.

The letter also referenced widespread accusations of repression, stating that US and international organizations have "long documented violations of religious freedom targeting Christian communities and various religious groups across China."

These violations encompass arbitrary detentions, lengthy prison terms, forced closures of places of worship, destruction of religious property, as well as intimidation and surveillance of clergy and worshippers, as noted by the lawmakers.

They urged the administration to implement tangible measures under current US law. "Through the International Religious Freedom Act, the Administration is authorized to impose targeted sanctions and enhance reporting and diplomatic efforts to support your actions in addressing severe violations of individuals’ religious freedom," the letter indicated.

The lawmakers requested Trump to pursue a "resolution of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri’s case and that of other church leaders" from various congregations, including Zion Church and Early Rain Covenant Church. They also suggested imposing "targeted sanctions and visa restrictions" against those accountable for these violations and emphasized the importance of maintaining a focus on religious freedom within US-China relations.

This letter received backing from a wide array of lawmakers across party lines, reflecting a rare bipartisan consensus on the issue of religious freedom in China.

Pastor Jin, who has family connections to American citizens, has become a pivotal figure in the broader discourse regarding Beijing’s treatment of unapproved religious organizations. The lawmakers portrayed his situation as part of a larger trend impacting Christians, Tibetans, and Uyghurs.

This topic adds complexity to the agenda for the forthcoming Trump-Xi meeting, where trade, security, and geopolitical tensions are also expected to be significant discussion points.