Three Americans who were detained in China for years and deemed wrongfully held by the U.S. State Department have returned home as part of a prisoner swap, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.

Mark Swidan of Houston, Texas; Kai Li of Long Island, New York; and John Leung, a U.S. permanent resident from Hong Kong, have been reunited with their families for the first time in years.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed he spoke with the three men during their journey back to the United States. “I told them how glad I was that they were in good health and that they’ll soon be reunited with their loved ones,” Blinken said in a post on X.

While the State Department did not disclose specific details of the deal, a senior official revealed the agreement included the exchange of three Chinese nationals convicted of espionage. Additionally, China lifted an exit ban on another American who had been barred from leaving the country. The Chinese embassy declined to comment on the release.

Mark Swidan’s mother, Katherine Swidan, shared an emotional post on Facebook featuring her son posing with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and Roger Carstens, the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, aboard the plane. “My son Free at Last,” she wrote.

Harrison Li, the son of Kai Li, expressed gratitude in a statement posted on X. “We are thrilled that Kai is on his way home along with Mark Swidan and John Leung. Thank you, President Joe Biden, and everyone who made this day possible at long last. Please keep bringing them home,” he wrote.

The three Americans were scheduled to arrive at Joint Base San Antonio late Wednesday night, marking the end of a long ordeal and a major diplomatic achievement.