Her husband faced political persecution there, she said, and they came to America as refugees in 1980.
There are more than 12 million refugees worldwide who face persecution if they return home.
But they would do so at the risk of repatriating people who could face persecution upon their return.
They did so in the knowledge that they would face more persecution.
But lawyers for the dissidents say they still hope that students who may face persecution in China can stay.
That's because all new religions face persecution at the beginning.
The country is home to several communities that have faced persecution elsewhere.
The students say they would face persecution if forced to return to their homeland.
My family was reluctant to let me join, because they were afraid I might face persecution.
They will be sent back at once to the land where they face persecution.