Report: US Has Resettled No Persecuted Christian Refugees This Year
A report released September 4 by World Relief and Open Doors US found the United States resettled no refugees from Open Doors' list of the 50 countries most oppressive to Christians during fiscal year 2026, a full stop compared to a steady pipeline in prior years. Total refugee admissions for the year numbered only 11,000 to 16,000, nearly all of them white South Africans, with just three Afghans admitted who were not religious minorities. The report comes as 4,849 Christians were killed for their faith over the past year and more than 224,000 were forced to flee their homes due to religious persecution, according to the groups' tracking.
"We have more Christians facing persecution than ever recorded, and it's at a time when the US is taking less action," said World Relief CEO Myal Greene. His colleague Matthew Soerens added that "the US has in many ways closed the door on those fleeing persecution." The refugee resettlement program dates to the 1950s. In November 2025, a Department of Homeland Security initiative called Operation PARRIS also detained roughly 150 previously resettled refugees for re-verification of their status. Surveys have found about 70 percent of evangelical Christians believe the United States has a moral responsibility to welcome refugees.
