Christianity Today: A recent report titled “Closed Doors” reveals a decline in the resettlement of persecuted Christians in the US over the past five years due to the effects of the pandemic and changes in refugee resettlement policies. Despite rising persecution levels globally, the number of Christian refugees admitted to the US has significantly decreased, highlighting concerns about religious freedom and America’s historical role as a safe haven for refugees.
IRAP: The U.S. will reopen refugee applications for Iranian religious minorities who were previously denied due to stringent vetting processes. This move aims to address past injustices and improve access to asylum for affected individuals.
The Conversation: Despite the idea that welcoming the stranger is central to many religions, the widespread support of receiving refugees is waning. Immigrant advocates, in particular religious organizations, are appealing to the Biden administration to increase the processing speed of thousands of Afghans fleeing from the Taliban.
Washington Examiner: Religious symbols have a strong role in reducing violence and fostering harmony and social cohesion. Despite this, attacks against houses of worship, religious leaders, and objects of spiritual significance are common in conflict zones in Africa. Authors James Carr and Frederick Davie express the importance of the role of the U.S. government in working with African governments and international partners to prioritize the safety of communities of faith.
Religion News: The State Department is not permitting statistics about refugees admitted into the United States, including their religious affiliations, to be publicly available. There are two main reasons for the change: the development of a new information technology system, which will not be completed until December 2021, and concerns about privacy.
ABC News: Immigration experts tell ABC News that government workers can likely determine whether those seeking refugee status in the United States are lying about their religious affiliations. Royce Murray, policy director for the American Immigration Council, claims that the Department of Homeland Security is highly trained to ask for evidence supporting an asylum seeker’s claim concerning their religious persecution.
Wall Street Journal: The State Department released a report documenting the largest international displacement of religious communities, particularly in conflicts with religious or sectarian dimensions. The annual report’s release came as the Obama administration announced it was nominating Rabbi David Saperstein as the next ambassador for international religious freedom.
Religious Refugees