U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, joined by Chris Coons (D-DE), has introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the abduction of Paster Ezra Jin Mingri and other leaders of Beijing's Zion Church, calling for their immediate release.
"The Chinese Communist Party is conducting yet another sweeping crackdown on Christians, and they are again targeting Pastor Jin and the Zion Church," said Cruz. "The CCP fears anything it cannot directly control, perhaps most of all, faith."
He urged the United States to use its diplomatic and legal tools "unless and until China releases the members of the Zion Church."
Coons echoed those concerns, emphasizing the universal right to worship freely.
"Everyone deserves the right to practice their religion freely without fear," said Coons. "Just in the last few days, they've arrested Pastor Ezra Jin and other members of the Zion Church for simply doing what so many of us do each day: worshiping their God."
The resolution is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of senators, including Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jim Justice (R-WV), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).
In the House, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced the companion legislation.
"Senator Cruz and I are fighting to hold the CCP accountable... We won't rest until they release Pastor Jin and all the other people of faith wrongly detained," said Barr.
The October 10, 2025, arrests have marked the largest coordinated crackdown on a Christian urban house church in over four decades, with at least 22 members of the Zion Church detained nationwide.
