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In the State of the Union address, we heard a lot about immigration. When this topic is discussed on a national stage, it’s worth asking: What are the facts? And how should we respond?
Conversations about refugees and other immigrants often generate strong reactions. But behind every claim are real families — many of whom have fled persecution, violence or instability and are seeking safety through legal processes.
As Christians, we are called to care about both truth and compassion. That means examining the data carefully, rejecting harmful generalizations and remembering that policies affect people — including millions of fellow believers.
For over 80 years, World Relief has worked alongside immigrants, churches and communities across the globe. We believe informed engagement matters. When we separate verified facts from broad claims, we are better equipped to respond with wisdom, justice and love.
Let’s look at the facts about refugees and other immigrants. As you read, consider how we might embody both conviction and compassion in this moment.
Claim 1: “We will always allow people to come in legally, people that will love our country and will work hard to maintain our country.”
Fact: While we appreciate this statement of support for legal immigration from President Trump, recent policy changes have actually reduced legal pathways for many people. These include sharp cuts to refugee admissions (including for persecuted Christians), pauses on all immigrant visas for individuals from 75 countries, a halting of affirmative asylum processing, and termination of humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for millions.
Claim 2: “There has been a tremendous renewal in religion, faith, Christianity and belief in God.”
Fact: While we hope this could be true, there’s no broad data showing a nationwide surge in faith tied to policy or political events. However, World Relief’s One Part of the Body Report shows that 80% of people vulnerable to deportation under current enforcement policies are Christians, with millions of Christian households at risk of losing family members due to immigration actions.
Claim 3: Immigration is “importing” degenerate cultures to the United States and ultimately hurting Americans financially.
Facts: Every person — regardless of nationality — is made in the Image of God with inherent dignity and worth (Gen. 1:27). As Christians, we are also called to reject slander and sweeping generalizations (Eph. 4:31). While those who commit crimes should face justice, it is unjust to penalize entire groups based on one person’s wrongdoing. Economically, immigrants contribute more than they receive — from 1994 to 2023, they paid more in taxes every year than they received in government benefits based on research from The Cato Institute.
Claim 4: “Illegal aliens are voting in American elections.”
Fact: Audits and election data show this is extremely rare. Independent research from The Center for Election Innovation and Research finds that when states investigate claims of non-citizen voting, the number of actual cases shrinks dramatically — often to tiny fractions of a percent of total votes. Election officials in every state work to verify eligibility and remove ineligible registrations.
Claim 5: “Iryna Zarutska’s murderer came in through open borders.”
Fact: The alleged perpetrator in that horrifying case was a U.S.-born citizen. Regardless of a person’s legal status, we affirm that justice systems hold individuals accountable for violent crime. Nevertheless, Cato Institute research shows that immigrants overall are less likely than native-born U.S. citizens to commit crime. According to the Department of Homeland Security, even within immigration detention, 73% of individuals have never been convicted of any crime.
The Bottom Line
When immigration and voting are discussed, it’s important to separate verified facts from broad claims. Independent data shows:
• Immigrants generally have lower crime rates than U.S.-born residents.
• Legal immigration pathways have been reduced in recent policy cycles.
• Many affected by enforcement are long-standing community members, including Christians.
• Non-citizen voting is extremely rare.
Understanding the real facts helps us engage compassionately and responsibly. Let’s put our faith into action by advocating for our refugee and other immigrant neighbors by calling your member of Congress in support of comprehensive immigration policy (The Dignity Act) and opposing mass deportation.