Report: U.S. on track to admit zero persecuted religious refugees in 2026

A new report from World Relief and Open Doors US warns that the United States is on track to admit zero refugees fleeing religious persecution during the 2026 fiscal year, which ends September 30. The report, titled “State of the Golden Door,” concludes that this marks the first time in at least 25 years that the U.S. has effectively shut out those seeking asylum due to faith-based oppression.

While the U.S. has admitted an estimated 11,000 to 16,000 refugees this fiscal year, the report notes that these individuals have primarily been white South Africans, whom the Trump administration identifies as victims of racial discrimination. The authors argue that current border policies and executive orders have functionally discontinued the asylum system for those facing religious persecution. World Relief CEO Myal Greene and Open Doors US CEO Ryan Brown stated that while they support secure borders, they believe the current approach fails to uphold the safety and rights of legitimate asylum seekers, citing biblical mandates to welcome the stranger.