Richard J. Durbin
05/14/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/14/2026 14:35
Senate Passes Durbin, Cruz Resolution Urging The Release Of Political Prisoners In China
May 14, 2026
Senate Passes Durbin, Cruz Resolution Urging The Release Of Political Prisoners In China
Calls on President Trump to make their release part of his discussion with President Xi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution urging President Trump to prioritize securing the release of political prisoners during his current visit to China, including Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife, Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, Ekpar Asat, and Jimmy Lai.
"No one should fear for their lives or suffer political imprisonment for standing up for democracy and freedom," said Durbin. "While the Chinese have worked with my office on such cases in the past and made some important gestures, it's time for the immediate release of Dr. Gulshan Abbas, Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and Pang Yu, Ekpar Asat, and Jimmy Lai. Now that this resolution has passed the Senate, I urge President Trump to raise their cases with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his current visit to China."
"The Chinese Communist Party is an authoritarian regime that jails dissidents, silences religious believers, and violates basic freedoms. The Senate's passage of this bipartisan resolution underscores that America will continue fighting to secure the release of those wrongfully detained and hold the CCP accountable for these detentions," said Cruz.
In addition to Durbin and Cruz, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Curtis (R-UT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Chris Coons (D-DE) also cosponsored the resolution.
In March, Durbin spoke on the Senate floor highlighting their cases and calling for their release.
Full text of the resolution is available here.
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