Five-fold increase in the resettlement of Iranian Christian refugees in the United States

Open Doors and World Relief announced a fivefold increase in the number of Iranian Christian refugees resettled in the United States.

Two global Christian organizations, Open Doors and World Relief, which advocate for the rights of persecuted Christians and a charitable organization, respectively, published a report on the increase in the acceptance of Iranian Christian refugees by the United States by the end of September 2024, which shows that this acceptance has increased fivefold compared to September 2020.

Resettlement of refugees refers to the selection and transfer of refugees from the country in which they have applied for protection and to a third country that has agreed to accept them as refugees with permanent residence status.

This year’s resettlement represents a 4 percent increase compared to 2020, when only 54 Iranian Christian refugees were resettled in the United States. But according to the published report, which the authors headlined with “Golden Door,” there is no guarantee that this trend will continue.

The aforementioned organizations, publishing a report in 2020 titled “Closed Doors,” warned of the sharp decline in the arrival of persecuted Christian refugees to the United States, stating that this issue could endanger the lives of Christian asylum seekers and refugees, and that American Christians should not remain silent in the face of this. The aforementioned report also noted a 97 percent decline in the acceptance of Iranian Christian refugees, which represents the largest decline among refugees in different countries.

A new 24-page report prepared and published by these organizations points to the US State Department's refugee support program called "Welcome Corps" or "Establishment Corps," which could be one of the reasons for the increase in the acceptance of Iranian refugees.

The authors of the reports note that there are ongoing challenges in assisting refugees, adding: “In some host countries, such as Turkey, the ability of the U.S. government to interview and process refugees in these countries is limited, making them ineligible for resettlement support.”

According to the new program of the US State Department, called the "Welcoming Corps" or "Weekly Corps" and mentioned in January 2022, they announced: "Groups of Americans with at least five members are expected to raise at least $2,275 for each refugee they sponsor. This financial assistance is to provide housing and other basic needs for refugees during the first three months of their arrival in the United States."

The report also states that U.S. citizens and permanent residents can form groups to support refugees. Once these groups are formed, the backgrounds of the individuals willing to help refugees will be reviewed. In addition, they must present their support plan.

The two global Christian organizations that published these reports mentioned in their report an Iranian woman named "Susan" who was finally resettled in the United States after 12 years of asylum in Indonesia.

The aforementioned organizations also pointed out in their reports that governments including Iran, North Korea, China, and Eritrea suppress and severely persecute Christians, with one in seven Christians facing threats, harassment, abuse, and discrimination.