The families of two Black Americans who have been imprisoned in China for more than a decade are urging President Donald Trump to press for their release during his summit this week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Reuters reports.
The campaign centers on Dawn Michelle Hunt, a 54-year-old Chicagoan and former flight attendant, and Nelson Wells Jr., 52, a Louisiana native and father of three, both of whom have reportedly spent well over 10 years behind bars on drug charges.
According to relatives and advocates, Hunt and Wells were ensnared in separate “blind mule” schemes, in which they say the two were unaware they were carrying narcotics for third‑party traffickers.
Hunt was detained in China on drug smuggling charges in 2014 and sentenced to death with a 2-year reprieve in 2017, which was later commuted to life imprisonment. According to her family, she was lured to China by a fraudulent sweepstakes offer and arrested when drugs were found in handbags given to her by the trip organizers.
Wells, Jr., was also arrested in China under similar charges in 2014. He was also initially sentenced to life imprisonment but had his sentence reduced to 22 years in 2019, which leaves him incarcerated until 2041.
Wells’ father recounted his son’s story during a 2024 testimony before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. He shared that his son traveled to China for a necessary medical procedure. While recovering, Nelson met an acquaintance who asked him to carry bags of gifts to Japan. Like Hunt, Wells had no idea drugs were hidden inside those bags.
In both cases, evidence overwhelmingly suggests they were unknowingly caught in an elaborate drug trafficking scheme. Though that evidence was ignored during sentencing. Penalties for drug‑related offenses in China are severe, and both have remained in prison even as their health and mental well‑being have deteriorated.
With every new administration, new president, or diplomatic visit between the U.S. and China, the families band together to ensure their loved ones aren’t forgotten.
A bill was introduced in late 2025, “The Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Michelle Hunt Unjustly Detained in Communist China Act,” which mandates a coordinated response from the federal government when Americans are unjustly held in China.
For years, the Hunts and Wells families have circulated letters and public appeals, emphasizing that the two are ailing and have already served many years, often in isolation. “With President Trump meeting President Xi, our two families are writing letters – we’re asking, ‘Can you please ask for the release of our loved ones?’,” said Tim Hunt, Dawn Michelle’s older brother, to Reuters.
This week’s summit is a rare window for the families, given Trump’s scheduled talks with Xi.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed it is providing consular support to both detainees and has formally requested their release on humanitarian grounds due to both experiencing health concerns.
Privately, Chinese officials have signaled they may be open to considering humanitarian release if the appeal comes from a senior U.S. official, people familiar with the discussions say.
“We are common people,” Wells Sr. said to the outlet. “We cry every night. Our loved ones never leave our minds.”
Source: bet.com