In a dramatic shift from decades of U.S. refugee policy, the fiscal 2026 Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions set the annual ceiling at an unprecedented low of 7,500 slots—later raised mid-year to 17,500, but still the lowest final ceiling since the program’s inception in 1980. More striking than the number, however, was the demographic restriction: nearly all spots were reserved for white South Africans, effectively shutting out refugees fleeing religious persecution, including Christians.
Historically, the U.S. has resettled an average of 73,500 refugees per year, with ceilings sometimes as high as 200,000. The program has been a cornerstone of American soft power, fostering international goodwill and filling labor gaps. It also served as a tangible commitment to protecting those persecuted for their faith abroad. That legacy has been upended.
According to data from Open Doors, only three refugees from the 50 countries on its World Watch List for Christian persecution were resettled in fiscal 2026—and none were religious minorities. This fiscal year, which ends later this month, will be the first on record with no Christians fleeing persecution resettled in the U.S. The administration’s focus on South Africa, a country not known for religious persecution of Christians or other minorities, has necessarily excluded those fleeing faith-based persecution.
Compounding the problem, the Department of Homeland Security in January re-interviewed lawfully present refugees who had applied for green cards. Christian refugees from countries like Burma were detained, separated from their children, and transferred to detention centers in Texas. Though courts have temporarily halted such detentions, the policy has retraumatized individuals who have already survived unimaginable tragedies.
These developments come as global displacement reaches record levels. At the end of 2025, over 41 million people were refugees, part of more than 117 million forcibly displaced worldwide. Meanwhile, over 388 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination, with significant numbers originating from Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan—countries that also produce many refugees.
Public opinion across the political spectrum reflects concern. Among evangelical Christians, 70% believe the U.S. has a moral responsibility to accept refugees, and 78% of evangelical pastors agree, with only 2% saying no refugees should be resettled. Eighty-seven percent say those persecuted for their Christian faith should be a priority, while just 20% say the same for the South African population currently prioritized.
The annual refugee determination carries extra weight in an election year. Midterms are moments of national self-reflection, and the administration has an opportunity to recalibrate its approach. The president could restore the prioritization of religious persecution that marked his first term by ensuring the fiscal 2027 determination reflects those values.
Every day of delay enables further mistreatment of vulnerable individuals. Both the administration and lawmakers from both parties should commit to reforming border and asylum processes to preserve security while ensuring that those persecuted for their faith retain access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. As Washington's fiscal avoidance deepens, so too does the moral urgency of this issue.
