US Bishops urge refugee protections beyond one group

A new federal determination allowing the admission of 10,000 South African Afrikaners as refugees has prompted renewed calls from the U.S. bishops for a refugee policy that serves all vulnerable people, regardless of nationality or background, and recognizes those persecuted for their faith.

On May 27, the government published an Emergency Presidential Determination for Fiscal Year 2026, citing “an unforeseen emergency refugee situation.” The measure authorizes the admission of 10,000 Afrikaners from South Africa through the U.S. refugee program.

Responding to the announcement, Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, welcomed the recognition that refugee resettlement remains both possible and necessary.

At the same time, he expressed concern that current policy continues to favor one group while leaving many others without access to protection.

“Offering refuge to the world’s vulnerable and persecuted is a founding principle of our country and it is uniquely what makes this country great,” Bishop Cahill said. He noted that for decades the United States sought to provide refuge according to law, shared values, and national interest rather than privileging a particular population.

The bishop’s statement comes amid an ongoing debate over the future of refugee admissions in the United States. In January 2025, the Administration indefinitely suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and established a ceiling of 7,500 refugee admissions for Fiscal Year 2026.

According to the bishops, nearly all refugees admitted since then have been Afrikaners who received individualized exceptions to the broader suspension.

Bishop Cahill emphasized that many other refugees remain in limbo. When the admissions program was halted, more than 100,000 people from various countries had already been conditionally approved for refugee status and were awaiting resettlement. Many had spent years navigating the complex screening and application process.

Particularly troubling, the bishop suggested, is the situation of those facing religious persecution. “We appreciate the Administration’s acknowledgement that our country can continue to resettle refugees,” he said, “and we renew our call for resettlement to be extended further to others in need, including those persecuted on the basis of their faith.”

The Church has long supported refugee resettlement as an expression of both human dignity and solidarity. Catholic teaching recognizes the right of people to seek safety from violence, persecution, and grave threats to their lives. While governments have a responsibility to manage borders and promote the common good, the Church consistently advocates for policies that protect the vulnerable and provide pathways to safety for those fleeing danger.