The White House confirmed the release of three Americans, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, from detention in China, describing their detention as wrongful.

A spokesperson stated that the three will soon return home to their families. The spokesperson attributed their release to the administration’s diplomatic efforts with the PRC, adding that all wrongfully detained Americans in China are now home.

Mark Swidan, a Texan, was arrested in November 2012 while in China on business seeking flooring materials. According to the Texas Tribune, his arrest followed the alleged discovery of drugs with his driver and translator.

A UN report concluded that Swidan possessed no drugs and was not in China at the time of the alleged offense. The report further stated that others arrested with Swidan could not identify him, and his conviction stemmed from visiting a factory previously used for methamphetamine production.

His mother, Katherine Swidan, previously expressed her desire for his release, noting his deteriorating health and significant weight loss.

Kai Li’s son, Harrison Li, reported that his father was detained in Shanghai in 2016 while attending his mother’s memorial service. He was reportedly taken into custody immediately upon arrival at the airport.

A website dedicated to Li’s case stated that he was held on politically motivated espionage charges, serving a 10-year sentence at Shanghai’s Qingpu Prison.

Leung, a Hong Kong permanent resident, was also sentenced on espionage charges in 2023, following his detention in April 2021. A friend described his involvement in charity work and organizing US-China tours for musicians.

’ Kate Sprague, Andrew Mark Miller and Kristine Parks contributed to this report.