“Many non-Christians seem to think the idea of an evangelical who cares about refugees is oxymoronic. They are aware of a poll showing that just 25 percent of white evangelicals believe the US has a responsibility to welcome refugees, far lower than any other religious demographic in the country. We’ve become known—fairly or not—as heartless and xenophobic.”

So writes Matthew Soerens in Christianity Today (“Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Lowering the US Refugee Ceiling,” 30 Sep 2019).

Soerens writes to express his sorrow at the lessened number of refugees the United States will be letting into the country in 2020. The average ceiling for refugees has been around 95,000 for the past four decades. In 2020, the number has been reduced to 10,000.

Recent wars, famine, and violence have contributed to massive numbers of refugees, yet we are choosing to help fewer of them. Not only are we ignoring desperate needs. Our example influences other wealthy nations to ignore refugees as well.

Soerens is World Relief’s US director of church mobilization. He has co-authored a book, Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate.

Soerens is not advocating “letting everybody in.” He is not advocating open borders.

What alarms him is reducing to practically nothing the reasoned, systematic intake of those who have always strengthened our country and contributed to its success.

In so doing, we are throwing away one of the foundation stones of this country. Welcoming a fair share of desperate men, women, and children who have lost homes, livelihoods, and safety is part of our DNA that has blessed us and blessed the world.