U.S. Admits Zero Persecuted Christian Refugees in 2026, New Report Finds
When you think of Christians facing persecution, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it Jesus and the suffering He and His Disciples endured? Or is it modern-day suffering, and how we can play a role in their aid?
According to a recent U.S. report, the Trump administration has admitted zero persecuted Christians this year. Baptist News explains that Donald Trump is the first president in roughly 45 years “not to permit the resettlement of a persecuted Christian or other religious minority through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.”
In World Relief’s State of the Golden Door Report published in 2024, we see striking numbers. While 2020 brought 5,378 arrivals, 2024 brought 29,478 arrivals. The number dropped back down to 9,916 arrivals in 2025, and now 0 in 2026. This data reflects the arrival of specifically Christian refugees from the 50 countries on the Open Doors 2026 World Watch List for persecution.
The report concludes that “Only three refugees were resettled from a country on the Open Doors World Watch List, and those individuals were not religious minorities. We can conclude with a high degree of confidence that in FY2026, no refugees experiencing religious persecution will be resettled in the U.S."
Just one month before President Trump and his administration are set to determine the number of refugees to be admitted to the country in fiscal year 2027, beginning Oct. 1, World Relief president Myal Greene expresses her frustration: “The U.S. has essentially taken this golden door and closed it” (Christian Post).
Baptist News Global agrees, noting that “FY2026 will be the first year in at least a quarter century, and likely in the entire history of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, in which persecuted religious minorities have been completely shut out.”
In an open letter and plea included in World Relief’s report, Greene and CEO Ryan Brown beg the American Church to become aware of what is happening, take action and pray.
“Our prayer is that this report would challenge the U.S. church to consider how its public witness can be marked by solidarity with fellow Christians facing extreme persecution around the world and equip believers to advocate and pray on their behalf.”
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/seechung
Originally published September 15, 2026.
