U.S. Refugee Policies Leave Persecuted Christians with Fewer Paths to Safety
Posted at International Christian Concern:
Published September 18, 2026
Christians facing persecution around the world are finding fewer pathways to safety in the United States as the country’s refugee resettlement program remains effectively suspended, and new asylum procedures change how some claims are initially reviewed.A new report from World Relief and Open Doors U.S. found that fiscal year 2026 is on track to be the first year in the history of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in which no refugees from the 50 countries identified by Open Doors as the countries of greatest concern for Christian persecution were resettled in the United States.
The finding comes as Christians continue to face severe persecution worldwide. According to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, 4,849 Christians were killed for their faith during the reporting period, while more than 224,000 Christians were forced from their homes, went into hiding, or fled their countries because of persecution.
For Christians living in countries such as Iran, Myanmar, Nigeria, and other nations where religious persecution is widespread, the consequences of changes to American refugee policy can be significant.
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program was suspended by executive order in January 2025, with exceptions allowing the administration to admit refugees on a case-by-case basis when officials determine that doing so is in the national interest and does not pose a security or welfare threat.
The administration has subsequently established a limited refugee admissions framework for fiscal year 2026. World Relief and Open Doors report that, based on available admissions data, the program has not resettled a persecuted Christian refugee from any of the top 50 countries of concern this fiscal year.
The issue is particularly relevant for Christians who cannot safely remain in their home countries but also have no realistic means of reaching the United States to request asylum.
Refugee resettlement and asylum are separate pathways. Refugees generally apply and undergo screening outside the United States, while people already in the country or seeking admission at a port of entry seek asylum.
For some Christians who manage to reach the United States, however, the asylum process is also changing.
