David Lin, a pastor from California, has recently been freed from a Chinese prison after spending nearly two decades behind bars. The U.S. State Department confirmed that Lin, who was previously sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of contract fraud, has returned to the United States and reunited with his family.

At 68 years old, Lin was detained by Chinese authorities in 2006 while attempting to assist an unregistered church. His arrest was part of a larger initiative to suppress religious practices that do not align with state-sanctioned groups, according to reports from advocacy organizations like the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Although Lin consistently denied the allegations against him, they were often used as a strategy to target leaders of unapproved religious institutions.

Alice Lin, David's daughter, expressed her excitement upon receiving the news of her father’s release, sharing her joy with Bob Fu, the founder of the advocacy group China Aid. In her message, she conveyed her gratitude, revealing that her father had already made it back to the U.S. by traveling over Alaska.

The Biden administration has been involved for several years in efforts to facilitate Lin’s release, consistently addressing his case in high-level discussions with Chinese officials. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the significance of Lin's release and noted the emotional reunion with his family after such a long separation.

Lin's situation highlights the restrictive environment regarding religious freedom in China, where all religious institutions must register with the government and demonstrate allegiance to the Communist Party. While Lin's life sentence had been reduced, he was initially expected to remain in prison until 2030. His release comes amidst ongoing campaigns for the freedom of other Americans, such as Kai Li and Mark Swidan, who are still imprisoned under questionable circumstances. Efforts to secure their release are still in progress.