Evangelical Christians Call On Trump To Halt Deportation Of Afghan Christians

Dozens of Christian leaders are calling on the Trump administration to back down on its vow to deport Afghani Christians after terminating their humanitarian parole to remain in the United States. It is feared that this would be effectively a death sentence for thousands of Christians who fled the Muslim terror state in Afghanistan imposed by Taliban extremists.

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said “It would be unconscionable for the Trump Administration to deport Afghan Christians back to Afghanistan knowing they would face certain persecution and even death. These Afghans have been in America legally and have no criminal records.”  For example,  adine Maenza, chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom told WORLD that the Taliban takeover during the Biden administration "‘is the worst possible development for religious minorities. While most from these communities left Afghanistan in recent years, those that remain, and women in particular, are now in imminent danger.’" According to Muslim law, Christians are held in second-class status. Muslims who convert to Christianity are executed.

The Trump administration has sought to curtail the use of temporary protected status (TPS) and other forms of parole that it believes previous administrations abused. The current administration argues that those programs, intended by Congress to provide temporary assistance to foreign refugees, have afforded near permanent residence in the United States for them.

Earlier this month, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reviewed conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon and found that those countries no longer satisfied the statutory requirements that would allow the federal government to extend TPS for refugees from them.  The administration also terminated TPS status for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, but federal judges have blocked those decisions from taking effect.

According to a press release, Mahoney added, “Today, the Christian faith is the most oppressed religion in the world. More than 365 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution, violence, and discrimination for their faith. America cannot abandon persecuted Christians around the world. We cannot be silent or indifferent as our brothers and sisters face brutality and violence simply because of their faith.

Mahoney joined other Christian faith leaders calling on President Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to protect the Christian refugees and assure them that they will not be deported to Afghanistan. “It should never be the policy of America to deport innocent people into violence and persecution,” Mahoney said. The order affects approximately 9,000 Afghan Christian refugees currently in the U.S.

Alexei Laushkin, founder of Kingdom Mission Society said that Christians have been present in Afghanistan since the 2nd century and are currently facing the  most severe Christian persecution in the world. There are currently between 15,000 to 20,000 Christians in Afghanistan.

“This is a time for President Trump to reform the refugee program in favor of those facing severe and extraordinary persecution, like Afghani Christians. The administration should ensure that those whose Temporary Protection Status will expire are the first who are eligible for refugee status as persecuted Christians.

For its part, the nonprofit World Relief organization released “A Christian Statement on Refugee Resettlement”, which now has tens of thousands of signatures from Christians representing all fifty states, thousands of local churches and many prominent evangelical institutions. The statement  urges the Trump administration to resume the U.S. refugee admissions process that was suspended by an Executive Order issued on January 20, 2025.

A January poll of American evangelical Christians by Lifeway Research that found seven out of ten evangelicals  — including roughly two-thirds of evangelicals who voted for President Trump in 2024 — believe the U.S. has a responsibility to receive refugees.

Signatories of the statement called on Trump “to once again set the ceiling for refugee admissions at that level or higher, consistent with his commitments both to secure borders and to religious liberty and opportunity for all.” In January, Trump set a limit of 50,000 annual refugees.

The following are quotes from a few of the thousands of Christians who signed onto this statement:

Ryan Brown, president and CEO, Open Doors US:

“As an organization dedicated to serving the millions of believers facing persecution and discrimination because of their faith in Jesus, we know it is a small number of believers that will ever seek refugee status in the U.S. We also know the U.S. refugee resettlement program has historically been a crucial lifeline for these persecuted believers. As Christians around the world continue to face unprecedented persecution, we encourage the administration to consider the vital role refugee resettlement plays in addressing the plight of persecuted Christians.”

Walter Kim, president, National Association of Evangelicals:

“President Trump can lead the nation in rescuing persecuted Christians, as well as believers of other faiths, by restoring and strengthening the U.S. refugee resettlement program. As the son of a refugee from North Korea, I am alive today because my father was given refuge in South Korea and immigrated to the United States. Evangelical Christians stand ready to partner with the Trump administration to welcome persecuted refugees, knowing that by doing so we are obeying and serving our Lord.”

Katie Frugé, executive director, Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission:

“As the end of the 90-day pause on refugee resettlement approaches, I look back and give thanks for each of the 29,493 Christian refugees from countries where Christians face the most severe persecution who were resettled in 2024. Indeed, America’s longstanding commitment to religious freedom at home and abroad has made it a beacon of hope for persecuted Christians around the globe. I pray that our nation will continue to rise as a protector of those tormented by religious persecution, upholding our great tradition of compassion and strength.”

Myal Greene, president and CEO, World Relief:

“Most Christians support President Trump’s commitment to ensuring secure borders, but they also support sustaining legal immigration avenues for carefully vetted individuals who have fled persecution. We’re praying for the opportunity to explain to President Trump and his senior advisors why so many local churches and the voters who make them up want him to restore the refugee resettlement program.”

Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse said he has spoken to Republican leadership, including Senator Lindsey Graham. He said he was assured that the deadline for deporting the Afghan Christians has been pushed back. 

Global Refuge has met with members of Congress to lobby for the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would establish a path to permanent residency for Afghan refugees. Global Refuge is also providing legal aid to immigrants and working to raise public awareness of their plight.