Families of Jimmy Lai, a former Hong Kong media figure, and Min Zin, a U.S. scholar detained in China, appeared before a U.S. congressional committee on Wednesday. This came just one week before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States. The hearing, held by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, focused on the cases of the two men, with their families urging their release on humanitarian grounds. Jimmy Lai, a prominent critic of the Chinese government, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February by a Hong Kong court. The sentence followed his conviction under a national security law imposed by Beijing. His son, Sebastien Lai, spoke during the hearing, emphasizing the need for his father’s release. He described Lai, who is now 78, as a man who has already suffered enough and urged authorities to allow him to return home to be with his family during a difficult time. Min Zin, a U.S. citizen and scholar, is one of two Americans the U.S. State Department considers wrongfully detained in China. The other is Youlin Chen, a Chinese-born American seismologist who has been held for nearly two years. Sylvia Zin, Min Zin’s wife, also appeared at the hearing, asking for help to secure her husband’s release. These cases are regarded as high diplomatic priorities for the U.S. government. Former President Donald Trump previously raised Lai’s case during a meeting with Xi Jinping in May 2023, though he described it as a difficult issue. Trump also secured the release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri during that visit. Lai’s family is now pushing again for his freedom, noting that he is the oldest political prisoner in Hong Kong. His daughter, Claire, was not present at the hearing, as she has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy in London. His son said that Lai’s 20-year sentence could mean he dies in prison if not released soon. Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington on September 24, marking his first trip to the city in over a decade.