Christian groups advocate for refugee resettlement program

Faith-based organizations at the state and national level on Tuesday called on President-elect Donald Trump to continue the resettlement program for refugees. Trump could set the refugee admissions ceiling to at least 50,000 people per year as he did in 2017, according to a letter released by World Relief, a Christian humanitarian organization.

Representatives from the National Association of Evangelicals, Open Doors, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and other organizations signed the letter. Signees found that the resettlement program aligns with Trump’s stance on immigration. The letter argued that one of the best ways to secure America’s borders is to have a well-functioning legal immigration system where individuals are thoroughly vetted.

What is the resettlement program? The United States government in 1980 formalized the system by passing the Refugee Act. The legislation then raised the annual ceiling for refugees from 17,400 to 50,000, created a process to adjust that ceiling for emergencies, and required annual consultation between Congress and the president. Several nonprofit organizations work with the government to facilitate the program and help refugees rebuild their lives in the United States, according to World Relief.

How does the program help Christians? The refugee resettlement program protects persecuted Christians and those fleeing religious persecution, according to the letter. More than 29,490 Christian refugees from the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution arrived in the United States during fiscal year 2024, according to Open Doors. More than 70% of evangelicals believe the United States has a moral responsibility to accept refugees, according to a 2024 survey conducted by Lifeway Research.

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in Compassion about the state of the refugee resettlement program.