Fighting To Free Pastor Cao From Chinese Prison

In March 2024, American Pastor John Cao was set free from a Chinese prison after serving a seven-year sentence. A resident of Greensboro, North Carolina, Pastor Cao had been serving impoverished communities in China and Myanmar for 30 years when he was imprisoned for his Christian faith. The ACLJ represented Pastor Cao’s family during his imprisonment, working endlessly to get Pastor Cao set free. We worked with Congress on Pastor Cao’s behalf and presented oral interventions at the United Nations. We received a favorable opinion from the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that confirmed Pastor Cao had been arbitrarily detained and should be released immediately. After seven years behind bars, Pastor Cao was released from prison and reunited with his family in China. But despite being "set free," he still can't leave China and return to his wife and sons in the U.S. because the Chinese authorities refuse to return his Chinese ID, making it impossible for him to travel. As we continue fighting to see that Pastor Cao is truly free, please pray for his protection and for justice.