Full Breakdown
U.S. Refugee Program Admits No Persecuted Christians in FY 2026
9/8/2026, 1:30:15 AM
Core Event: Zero Christian Refugees Accepted
A joint report by Open Doors and World Relief released at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center found that no refugees fleeing religious persecution were admitted to the United States in fiscal year 2026. The report, titled *State of the Golden Door*, notes that the 50 countries on Open Doors’ World Watch List produced “zero” admissions for individuals whose safety was threatened because of their Christian faith.
Background & Context: Policy Shift Under the Trump Administration
The administration has prioritized the admission of white South Africans, describing them as victims of “unjust racial discrimination,” while the broader refugee ceiling has been reduced compared with prior Republican and Democratic administrations.
Data & Statistics
- Zero admissions of refugees from the Open Doors World Watch List in FY 2026.
- Asylum approval rate for those countries fell from 58 % in FY 2023 to 10 % in FY 2026.
- 388 million Christians worldwide face persecution, roughly one in seven of the global Christian population.
- 4,849 Christians killed during the reporting period, including 3,490 in Nigeria.
- Overall U.S. refugee admissions for FY 2026 are projected at 11,000–16,000 (the figure tied to the fiscal year ending September 30).
Official Statements & Responses
Open Doors CEO Ryan Brown warned that both the “breadth” and “depth” of Christian persecution have increased, citing surges of violence in Sub-Saharan Africa and expanding digital surveillance in China.
The State Department and Office of Refugee Resettlement declined to comment when asked about the policy change.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The report notes that only three refugees from a World Watch List country were admitted in FY 2026, and none were religious minorities. Other sources indicate that virtually all refugees admitted during the same period were white South Africans, a demographic not subject to documented religious persecution. No official government data have been released to confirm or refute the NGOs’ figures, leaving a gap in public verification.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This report is specifically talking about those individuals that have a reasonable fear for their life and their safety because of their Christian faith and identity,” — Ryan Brown, Open Doors CEO
- “We have more Christians facing persecution than ever recorded, and it’s at a time when the US is taking less action, since the start of the refugee program, to welcome persecuted Christians,” — Myal Greene, World Relief CEO
- “The US has in many ways closed the door on those fleeing persecution on account of their faith,” — Matthew Soerens, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy, World Relief
- “America gave us the freedom to stop being afraid,” — Ara Torosian, refugee from Iran now pastor in Los Angeles
What’s Next
The administration will set the refugee ceiling for fiscal year 2027 later this month. World Relief officials say they will continue advocacy efforts, urging the administration to “do more, not less” in resettling individuals fleeing religious persecution.
