China frees pastor Ezra Jin after Trump-Xi talks; he lands in Los Angeles on Independence Day
Ezra Jin, founder of the underground Zion Church, arrived in Los Angeles on 4 July after China released him from prison, a move his supporters describe as a goodwill gesture following President Trump's May meeting with Xi Jinping.
A long-awaited release
Ezra Jin, the founder of one of China's most prominent underground Christian churches, was freed from prison and landed in the United States on 4 July 2026. His family, who had repeatedly appealed to the US government, said they were "overwhelmed with joy." Jin had been detained since October 2025 in a sweeping crackdown on unregistered Christian groups.
We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling overwhelmed with joy. We thank God for this tremendous miracle. We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership.
China's ministry of foreign affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The release is a rare instance of Beijing freeing one of its own citizens in apparent response to lobbying from Washington.
Trump's intervention
President Donald Trump raised Jin's case directly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing in May 2026. After the meeting, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Xi was "seriously considering" releasing jailed pastors. Rights advocates and Jin's daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, had pressed the administration to act; Drexel testified before Congress in November 2025.
Chinese officials indicated to him that his release resulted from discussions between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, and was a goodwill gesture on the occasion of the American national holiday.
The US-based advocacy group ChinaAid, which campaigns for religious freedom in China, confirmed Jin's arrival in Los Angeles on 4 July and expressed gratitude for his release.
Zion Church and the crackdown
Jin founded Zion Church in Beijing in 2007. The independent congregation quickly drew thousands of worshippers, attracting the attention of authorities. In 2018, the church's physical location was forced to close, but the group shifted to online sermons via Zoom and small gatherings in about 40 Chinese cities.
- Ezra Jin founds Zion Church in Beijing, an independent Christian congregation.
- Authorities force the closure of Zion Church's physical location; the group moves to online sermons and small gatherings.
- Jin is arrested in a nationwide crackdown on house churches, charged with illegal use of information networks.
- President Trump raises Jin's case with Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing.
- Jin is released from prison and arrives in Los Angeles, reuniting with his family.
In October 2025, Jin was arrested alongside other pastors and church members in several provinces and the capital. He was charged with "illegal use of information networks." The arrests came months after China introduced new rules in September 2025 that banned religious preaching via live broadcasts on platforms such as WeChat.
Religious freedom in China
Christianity is legal in China, but worship is permitted only in government-controlled churches. Official figures put the number of Christians at 44 million in 2018, while estimates that include unregistered believers reach about 130 million. Many Christians prefer to worship in underground "house churches" like Zion, which operate outside state supervision.
The Chinese constitution officially recognises "freedom of religious belief" — that is, the freedom to believe in a religion — but does not mention "religious freedom," which has broader contours.
The ruling Chinese Communist Party remains wary of any organisation that could challenge its authority, and religious groups have faced increased surveillance. In January 2026, members of another prominent house church, Early Rain, were also detained.
