World Relief Reports a Christian Refugee Resettlement Gap

World Relief says final Fiscal Year 2026 arrival data show that no Christian refugees were resettled in the United States from the top countries identified as the worst persecutors of Christians by Open Doors’ World Watch List. The organization issued its statement on October 6.

According to World Relief, the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration had released arrival data for the final month of the fiscal year. The statement concerns refugee resettlement, not every route by which someone might enter the country. That limit matters when discussing what the figures show.

Aerlande Wontamo, World Relief’s senior vice president of U.S. programs, said refugee protection should never be limited to one faith group. She described the resettlement of persecuted Christians as an important sign of the broader program’s direction.

Wontamo also expressed concern about the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2027. She urged the administration and Congress to change course and set a refugee ceiling consistent with the first Trump administration.

Hebrews 13:2 directs our attention to hospitality as we consider those seeking safety. Lord, protect Christians fleeing persecution, give wisdom to those responsible for resettlement decisions, and help us welcome people in need with care.

Read Hebrews 13:2