The group of US lawmakers proposed a bill to punish Chinese officials regarding the enforcement of Beijing's ban on American exit.

"The Chinese government unjustly and unjustly used the so-called 'ban on exit' to prevent American citizens from leaving China. We have to protect our citizens and make sure they can return after leaving." abroad, "Republican Senator Marco Rubio said in a statement introducing the bill January 15.

Rubio and Democratic Congressman Ed Markey introduced the bill after writing to Trump, urging the President to pressure Beijing to release American citizens, including those banned from leaving.

The bill, if passed, would refuse or revoke visas for Chinese officials involved in the planning and implementation of a no-exit policy, requiring the US Department of State to publicly report on the number of people affected. by this policy.

It is estimated that at least 20 US citizens have been banned from leaving China in the past three years.

The Chinese Embassy has not commented on the bill. US Senators introduced a bill on the day Washington and Beijing signed a first-phase trade deal to ease an 18-month trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Markey mentioned that Victor and Cynthia Liu, who lives in Massachusetts, were "unfairly" prevented from leaving China from June 2018.

"In addition to being turned upside down because they cannot return home, they are regularly monitored, harassed and subjected to other threats from the Chinese government," he accused.

In a letter to Trump on January 14, MPs said Sandra Han, the mother of Victor and Cynthia Liu, was arrested on criminal charges in China. Family lawyers in New York believe they are "hostages" to their father, Mr. Changming Liu, forced to return to China for fraud.

Georgetown University in Washington says Victor Liu is expected to graduate in 2021 "We look forward to reaching a diplomatic solution for Liu to return home as soon as possible," said Principal John DeGioia in a statement.