In Los Angeles, Pastor Ara Torosian has emerged as a crucial advocate for his congregation’s members facing deportation due to recent immigration policies.
During a Sunday message in June, he provided guidance for those apprehended by immigration authorities, saying, “first, call your lawyer, and second, call your pastor.”
This advice became particularly urgent when, by the end of that month, two families reached out to him about their detainment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Pastor Torosian emphasizes the dire situation of Iranian Christians, stating, “There are hundreds of Iranian Christians from different churches that are in danger of deportation.
And if they go back to Iran, there’s a big danger. Many, many of them will be in prison.”
Torosian has been actively campaigning for the release of Iranian members of his church who fled to the U.S. in search of refuge from religious persecution.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reports that Iranian authorities routinely target minority faith communities, with Christians who convert from Islam often facing severe consequences.
One family from Torosian’s congregation previously entered the U.S. using an app known as CBP One, which allowed migrants to make asylum appointments at legal entry points.
However, this function was discontinued under the Trump administration, leading to forced self-deportations for many who entered the country this way.
As of the weekend following the two families’ outreach, one couple and their child were successfully released from detention but placed under an alternative detention program involving an ankle monitor.
The other couple remains detained in separate facilities.
The intersection of religious persecution and immigration policy is influenced by broader changes to the U.S. asylum system under the Trump administration.
While support for certain Christian refugees was apparent during the administration’s first term, recent policies have tightened immigration laws overall, making it more challenging for individuals seeking refuge based on religious oppression.
Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, acknowledged the administration’s humanitarian objectives stating, “President Trump has a humanitarian heart and especially cares deeply for Christians around the world who are facing persecution for their faith.”
Jackson further assured that individuals fearing persecution for religious reasons can apply for asylum in the U.S.
Statistics reveal that since the beginning of the Trump administration, approximately 13,000 individuals have been granted asylum, contrasting with around 18,000 approvals recorded during a comparable timeframe under the Biden administration.
In an executive order signed in May, Trump established a White House Religious Liberty Commission aimed at promoting America’s founding principle of religious freedom.
While the administration highlights humanitarian efforts, many individuals fleeing persecution share a contrasting experience.
For instance, an Afghan Christian in Oklahoma expressed the ongoing anxiety his family faces, stating that they have been waiting over six months without any update on their asylum application.
He and his family fled to Brazil and later made a perilous journey by foot and boat to the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping for safety in America but instead facing the specter of deportation.
“My family and I, we can’t sleep,” he explained. “All the time, we are scared.”
Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy for World Relief, a Christian humanitarian organization, noted the global persecution of religious minorities, with many individuals forced to leave their homes in search of safety.
Soerens remarked, “Everyone wants to stay home when they can, but often it reaches a point where people feel that they have no choice but to leave home.
And that is a tragedy, but it’s even more tragic when they have nowhere to go.”
By the end of the previous year, over 10 million Christian immigrants in the U.S. found themselves at risk of deportation due to legal status issues or the potential withdrawal of temporary protected status, according to a report from World Relief and other organizations.
The findings revealed that 8% of all Christians in the U.S., including various denominations, are at risk either personally or through household connections.
While quantifying asylum approvals based on religious persecution can be challenging, data indicates that Christian denominations comprised the largest group among refugees in fiscal year 2024.
Soerens highlighted, “Last year at least, and in most of the last several years, the majority of refugees we resettled happened to be Christians.
More than half of them come from countries where Christians face persecution.”
Reports from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom indicate that Christians face ongoing violence in parts of the Middle East and Africa.
In addition to changes in refugee and asylum policies, advocates express concern about the loss of temporary protected status for Afghan migrants, particularly as the country is cited as one of the most dangerous places for Christians, according to Open Doors.
Some policies under the Trump administration have faced legal challenges, particularly regarding the halt on refugee admissions and resettlement.
A small number of refugees managed to enter the U.S. amid ongoing legal disputes related to these policies.
Despite the administration’s hardline stance on immigration, some supporters believed there would be compassionate exceptions for persecuted Christians, leading to disillusionment as the realities of mass deportation set in.
Polling data reflects a nuanced opinion on Trump’s immigration policies.
While some Christian organizations raise concerns about the treatment of migrants, white Christians often show approval of Trump’s immigration approach, according to a survey from the Public Religion Research Institute.
In June, new travel bans were introduced, yet with certain exemptions for religious minorities facing persecution, including those from Iran.
While some protections have emerged, advocates call for extensive measures to safeguard hundreds of Afghan Christians as temporary protected status ends.
Pastor Torosian recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to lead a silent prayer outside the White House, aiming to rally support from Republican members of Congress for exceptions to Trump’s strict deportation policies.
Leading up to his visit, he received hundreds of messages from Iranian Christians expressing their fears of deportation, underscoring the critical need for advocacy and heightened protections for vulnerable individuals.
As immigration policies evolve, the plight of religious minorities continues to highlight the urgency for systemic change to ensure safety and enduring support for those at risk.
image source from：npr
