UPDATE: The group has been allowed to immigrate to the United States.

• READ: Chinese Mayflower Church members resettled in US after 3-year quest for asylum

Sixty-three members of the Mayflower Church based in Communist China had fled to Thailand as part of their journey to flee to America are fearing they may soon be facing deportation back to China, Premier Christian News reports.

The group composed of 28 adults and 35 children, were staying at a hotel near the Bangkok airport when they were raided by dozens of Thai police, resulting in 12 men being held in jail overnight and several women beaten.

Many members of the group had tourist visas to visit Thailand, but they had expired and were being charged with overstaying their visas.

There are growing fears that they will be forcibly deported back to Communist China where they face arrest.

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to attend church in Communist China, and 34 members of the Mayflower church, also called the Shenzhen Reformed Holy Church, fall into this category. The group had originally fled communist China to South Korea, before moving on to Thailand with hope of immigrating to the United States.

Shortly after the group arrived in Thailand, agents working with Communist China inside the country started stalking, harassing and threatening members of the Church. It is also believed that Chinese authorities are pressuring the Thai government to return the group to the Communist Regime.

Premier reports that UK and US authorities are following the situation closely and are hoping to come up with an alternative plan for the group.

READ: Thai police arrest and beat 63 Chinese Christians, as UK and US fight to deter deportations