WORLD NEWS

Faith groups in America have condemned the Trump administration’s proposal to admit only 15,000 refugees to the US in the fiscal year 2021.

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition, which is made up of 55 national American faith organisations, said in a statement that its members were ‘outraged at the immorality on display by this administration’ and called for a goal of 95,000 admissions, ‘in line with historic norms’.

Elissa Diaz, Policy Advocate with Church World Service and Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, said: “The Trump administration is slamming the door on persecuted people during the worst displacement crisis in history, with 29.6 million refugees worldwide. They are leaving thousands of people in precarious, life-threatening situations. President Trump has already cut the US refugee resettlement program by more than 80% – last year’s presidential determination was another historic low, 18,000 – and failed to meet even that. As people of faith, we cannot stand by as the United States turns its back on the world’s most vulnerable people.”

The Rev Dr J Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) said: “What is the value of just one life? To God, we are all members of the precious creation. Therefore, God calls us to be beacons of light in this world. As a church which has participated in refugee resettlement for decades, we understand that ministries involved in resettlement is an extension of God’s mercy, justice, and love.”

The protests in the US came a month after Christian organisations representing 2.8bn people called on the EU for a more compassionate approach to refugees in Europe, saying ‘solidarity should be the guiding principle governing migration and particularly refugees’.