Throughout President Trump's political campaign he made countless references to the dangers of Islam and the threat it posed to Christians around the world especially those living in the Middle East. In Iraq, Egypt, and other countries around the region, Christians are being persecuted at frighteningly high rates.
As this violence continued making headlines, Trump took to Twitter to voice his concerns:
Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017 And initially, Trump made good on his word to protect Christians; the first travel ban implemented by the White House gave preferential treatment to Christian refugees.
Fast forward a few months, however, and the landscape has changed. Last month, over 1,000 Iraqi Christians were arrested by U.S. immigration officials. They are suddenly in immediate danger of being deported.
Residing in Sin
A bit of background: over the past few decades, thousands of Christian refugees from the Middle East have entered the country. Many have overstayed their visas, failed to apply for asylum, or have committed a crime during their time here thus making them prime candidates for deportation under the current administration's policies.
"Some of them broke the rules and did not go through the process they should have, but these were people fearing for their lives and fleeing countries that were extremely hostile to whom and what they worship," says Philippe Nassif, who heads the nonprofit group In Defense of Christians.
Deadly Deportation
There's no getting around it: deportation could spell death for refugees. Many have been away from their home countries for years. Some have no family or connections left there. To make matters worse, Christians are facing extreme persecution and violence across the region. Stories emerge daily about Christians being hunted down by radical Muslims and killed for their beliefs. Under these conditions, deportation would be the equivalent of dropping refugees off in a warzone.
Rock and a Hard Place
Essentially, the Trump administration's promise to protect Christian refugees has come into immediate conflict with another main campaign pledge: to strengthen the nation's borders and remove individuals illegally residing in the U.S.
This puts the White House in a difficult position. On the one hand, their pledge to "enforce our immigration laws" has become incredibly popular among supporters. On the other, we are harboring a group of Christians that will face certain persecution if we send them back to their home countries. No matter what the White House does, somebody will be unhappy.
Should They Be Allowed to Stay?
Legally, the government has every right to deport the refugees. But should they? This is a moral dilemma. Yes, some of these people committed crimes. But they've served their sentences for those crimes. Justice has been carried out. Can we, in good conscience, ship them back home and into harm's way? Will the country be any better off for having done so?
33 comments
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Miranda Allison Young
Returning them to their former countries would not just be dropping them into a war zone. Essentially, we would be sending straight to Hell where they would be treated even worse. Our government must not be allowed to do this.
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Rev. Joseph
Well I can understand the fear and turmoil over refuges entering our country. The fact is the countries they come from have collapsed into a military war zone and all government has gone under. No matter what we think we can do to process their entry we are at a loss. How are you going to vet a person who's government has been destroyed or over run by out side forces. All offices that handle any paper work have been burned so we have no way to check their paper work. Most is forged a best and to whom are we supposed to contact and have a back ground check done on any individual coming here. I know it sounds crazy but maybe we should open our boarders to those who are willing to get tagged. the same as we do to keep track of beloved pets. I know it sounds like I comparing humans to animals but we are at a loss if they decide to get involved in terrorist activities here. Many come here because we have gotten involved in their countries business and faith. You know how that started in the past the original church tried to forcible spread the word or Gospel into areas that didn't want it. Jesus said to turn heal and remove any dust from your sandals of any community that did want to hear the word or Gospel of Christ. But did they no they just got further involved. We have been suffering for this and will continue to until we either find modern ways to keep track of all refuges. Or! close our borders send everyone back then turn our backs on their trouble. I think we know the latter will never happen. So maybe we should secretly chip on entry. Some kind of low dose I don't like any of these choices so I guess we should just quit complaining and stay the course with prayer and faith all will be taken care of by Our Father his Son and the Holy Ghost. "Amen"
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John Maher
REV. JOSEPH the LAST TWO SENTENCES of YOUR COMMENT are INCREDIBLY tRUMPesque, I wonder W T F the HOLY FATHER WOULD COMMENT on YOUR COMMENT, HOW WOULD U LIKE a CHIP in UR ARSE ??? .... DUMP the IGNORAMUS COWARDLY TRAITOR tRUMP,GOD is GREAT so is the US of A
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Rev. Joseph
Calm down and clean up your speech. I live by God Laws and Commandments Jesus said love your enemies and those who hate you. Of course I have a out look of Faith in God. It's what makes all who believe in Jesus Christ what and who they are. Hatred and fear only creates more hatred and fear. We have law and branches of government devoted to keeping us safe. Let them do their job. I don't suffer from over whelming fear and if you had Christ in your life you wouldn't either. Our faith is our shield and will protect us. "Amen" Rev. Joseph ULC
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John Maher
WHAT WE AMERICAN CITIZENs NEED ARE LAWS that PUNISH the CULPRITS that HIRE and OR HARBOR ILLEGALS, EXCEPT for the CHURCHS, SANCTUARY, ANY PERSON or PERSONS HIRING, HARBORING, AIDING and ABETTING in ANY FORM, SHOULD BE SUBJECT to a MANDATORY FELONY SENTENCE of 2 years and a FINE, ILLEGALS ARE CAUSED bythe AIDERS NOT the ILLEGALS, COMPANIES,small BUSINESS,DOMESTIC EMPLOYERS ALL are the CAUSE of the AMERICAN WORK PROBLEM,ANOTHER FACTOR is ALIENS GETTING VISAS and THEN WORKING ILLEGALLY for THEIR FAMILIES or BENEFACTORS or FRIENDS, THEY MAKE a LOT of MONEY and NO TAXES and TAKE the MONEY HOME, MOVE YER ARSE , I C E !!!
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John Owens
tHIS pARAGRAPH wAS hard To rEAD, BUT I aGREE WITH iT.
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Penny Asbury
I saw a similar comment on Rev.Hoagie post. You seem like a TROLL to me :(
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Penny Asbury
I'm new here. I was directing my comment to JOHN MAHER for his rude comments.
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John Maher
PENNY ASBURY, the TRUTH is RUDE SOMETIMES BUTT tRUMPS LIES are EVEN WORSE and if YOU DEAR PENNY CANNOT GRASP THAT WELL THEN T S, DUMPthe IGNORAMUS COWARDLY TRAITOR tRUMP and ALL his TROLLS, GOD is GREAT so is the US of A, I THINK YOU MIGHT want to JOIN the BUTTIE CLUB of VILLAGE IDIOTS, READ ON PENNY ASBURY.......
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Ann Wood
Deport whomever is not following the rules that everyone has to obey. How can their group have a non-profit status when they definitely profit at the expense of all tax paying citizens? The "belief" of no group should be given help over any other "beliefs". We are NOT a Christian Nation, we are a Republic with freedom FROM religion.
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kimm
The refugees being sent back are those who came with no vetting and no way to check them out within the countries they came from. So, how do you actually know that someone is actually who they say they are? It is common knowledge that terrorists came in with these refugees, and many are single young men, which in itself should raise about a dozen red flags. That said, do we just take people's word that they are Christian? I don't think you can in today's climate, as I'm sure potential terrorists will also claim to be Christian if it means they can stay.
Yes, it is sad that these extremes need to be taken, but there are a lot of people coming in who will do whatever it takes, including lie about their backgrounds, in order to get into the US to bring this country down.
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Willy
The vetting process is over a year long for EVERY refugee. Turn of Faux News
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Bill Fox
Christians in the Middle East are under real threat of death and enslavement. However, to qualify for emergency immigration status to the US, ALL immigrants should meet certain standards of identification. A terrorist will lie, including claiming to be a Christian. Being granted emergency immigration status is a privilege, not a right. I'm in favor of housing and supporting the terrorized, and arming them, in their own country. If their religious beliefs prevent them from defending themselves, it would behoove them to associate with those who are willing to help terrorists die for their beliefs.
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Amanda
Seems like everyone should be treated the same no matter what their religion is. A lot of the Muslims who are being sent back are also in danger of death. Everyone or no one. No matter what religion someone is, there are extremists on every side.
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Willy
Wow, it's almost as if you actually understand the principles this country was founded on.
Can't say the same for most of the other commenters.
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John Maher
VIVA La CONSTITUTION, the USA is GREAT, DUMP the IGNORAMUS COWARDLY TRAITOR tRUMP, GOD is FOREVER
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Geneva Blake-Jaco
We Must Protect Our People First with Proper Vetting and a Stronger Border! I hate that atrocities such as this happens in the World but we did Not Welcome the Japanese and Germans into our Country by the Thousands to bring a Nazi Hari Kari attitude during WWII and we should have the same attack against those Countries Now! We Need a General Patton! This Country was Based on ...."IN GOD WE TRUST" and that God is Jehovah the I Am and we should Fight against anyone that tries to change Our Nation! There's a point where tolerance becomes acceptance and I Nor Our Nation should Accept what they believe! They Demolished their Nation and have Full Intentions of doing the same to Ours! It's Sad for those that Truly want Freedom and Stop the Brutality of Islam
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Rev. Joseph
That is a problem with refuges but also from the beginning we could not for sure identify refuges in the past. This has existed from the earlier time when America was founded. Did we really know what kind of person or who they really were? No! Not at all the extreme prejudice see today was also here in the beginning. Don't think so view our early history of hatred of Irish immigrants, Polish, Jewish and countless others. But we survived because we are a nation of Godly people who don't turn their backs on the needs of the suffering. Our best intelligence comes from Muslims in our country who have found freedom here. And do some Muslims practice a Muslim faith that is cruel and not found to be Godly. Yes! but there are some Christian backed faiths that have done as much or more evil. Even Pope Francis supports this claim. Man takes belief and faith to good and evils ends. But if we don't help we are no better than those we judge as evil. The possibility of you being hurt of killed by Muslim terrorist is so minute it would be more likely you got struck by lightening will skiing the Alps. I wish I could remember the exact statistics but I have seen them in the past 6 months. Fear is our biggest enemy and those who use fear to their benefit. Donald Trump is a fear monger and feeds off of you fear to get what he wants. Money and power. "Amen"
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Scott Barton
Who is your neighbor? Is it for you to decide? If we do not recognize God's Son how can we expect to recognize our Father? Does God exclude? Does God see borders and seek separation? What did Jesus preach? Love your brother/neighbor as yourself? Everyone is your brother. All who seek conflict on this page and beyond are our brothers. Everyone is calling out for the light but few choose to see. You cannot choose conflict and find peace. There is no conflict in Heaven and all grievances are conflict. So every unloving thought is a willing denial of Heaven. It is a denial of Christ. A denial of self. A denial of God. Yes, one can justify it all one wants but is that really what we seek? To be right in our own eyes by deceiving ourselves and our brothers? All we are asked to do is love one another. Why is it easier to find fault in one another rather than seek what points the way in each other? People are in need of love not fear and all attack is based on fear. There is no fear in God. I do not mean to preach but simply point out a different way of seeing. All of you are my brothers and we travel together on what seems to be a stony path. It appears unstable but together we can hold one another up but it takes a willingness, a desire, a vigilance against our temptation to believe in falsity. Yea, it's work believe me but were has your thinking lead you so far? Are you at peace or in conflict? The world is simply a mirror of ourselves. I'm ready for something different.
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John Maher
SCOTT BARTON and ALL CONCERNED, if you wish to see any changes for the BETTER in this GREAT COUNTRY, DUMP tRUMP, GET RID of ALL the FOSSIL do NOTHINGS in the GOVERNMENT, PAY ATTENTION to what is GOING ON, V O T E, STOP LIVING in FEAR whatever HAPPENS to U happens to US ALL,SEND UR COMMENTS to W DC not to BLOGS like OLD WHINEY BITCHES,the ADVERSARY is tRUMP and HIS BAD CORRUPT GOVERNING and HIS COWARDS the RNC/GOP BEHIND HIM [ take note BOOGER OWINS behind HIM ] if YOU WANT to MAKE the USA GREATER BECAUSE it is ALREADY GREAT then DO SOMETHING, MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT, STOP LISTENING to CON ARTISTS LIKE tRUMP [ a TERRIBLE one I might ADD ] and the PARTIES in GENERAL, this PARTY or CLUB B S is HOW they SPLIT US UP, THINK FOR YOURSELF and YOUR FAMILIES, AIN'T NOBODY takin nothin from ya CAUSE U AIN'T got NOTHIN, the B S that the CONGRESS DECIDES [ CONgress ] the first 3 letters explains ALL, BEFORE ONE BELIEVES in ANYBODY or ANYTHING, ONE MUST BELIEVE in ONES SELF,* NOTHING in this WORLD is MORE DANGEROUS than SINCERE IGNORANCE and CONSCIENTIOUS STUPIDITY * DUMP the IGNORAMUS COWARDLY TRAITOR tRUMP, GOD is GREAT so is the US of A
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Scott Barton
John, I understand your frustration. Do you believe in the teachings of Jesus?
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John Maher
YES I DO, JESUS says turn your CHEEK, I SAY KICK ASS, I am still trying to LISTEN to JESUS but with ALL these LIARS ABOUND I will STICK to KICKING ASS for NOW,.... DUMP the IGNORAMUS COWARDLY TRAITOR tRUMP GOD is GREAT so is the US of A
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Scott Barton
I am glad to hear you are still listening but perhaps you do not hear. You know when He teaches be in the world and not of it. Be passersby. What does that mean to you? I think that that wisdom would do your restless belief some good to ponder. I know the current political and social atmosphere is one of constant conflict and denial of self worth but if you really think of it, that is the history of human nature throughout time. No solution has been found by investing in the ways of the world. Kingdoms come and go along with politicians and ruling factions. Lasting change has never taken place by putting faith in institutions including religion for that matter. Not that those do not seemingly hold teaching value when inspired by spirit but clearly they are limited. It is our individual salvation/forgiveness/correction in our understanding that will produce the desired effect of peace. That includes peace of mind. The world is insane and if you place your own sense of self worth and your bothers in it you will remain bound in its darkness by attempting to keep him chained in its falsity as well. True forgiveness is our willingness to heal. It is salvation. It is the light that the world needs to heal its self imposed crucifixion. It is we that are currently trying to crucify Gods son. The only meaning this world has to you in your current vision is the one you give it. Do you really think that God shares your thoughts of lack and want? That they somehow hold more value than your relationship with your creator? They keep you from Him. From your awareness of Him. What could you possibly want more than the peace of God?
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John Owens
It has taken me a year and a month to get around to reading this. Great comments, Maher, except for the dump Trump stuff. He is really helping get rid of the fossils in government. The rest is good sense. Bully for you, you old sod!
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John Maher
SCOTT BARTON, AMEN BROTHER, AMEN !!!
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Clayton Beardmore
Obviously John Maher (he of the capital letters) did not understand Scott Barton, so he merely agreed with him, but he forgot GOD is GREAT and so is the U S of A. What a troll John is!! He should be ignored - maybe, just maybe, he'll go away.
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John Maher
OBVIOUSLY CLAY of the MAKINGs of DIRT, if you DO NOT LIKE HOW I WRITE get a CONFEDERATE FLAG and a BIBLE and HIT the BASEMENT with the REST of the CLAY RELICs, DUMP the IGNORAMUS COWARD CRIMINAL TRAITOR tRUMP and ALL HIS BASEMENT TRASH in the VILLAGE of tRUMPIE IDIOTS, GOD is GREAT so is the US of A...... HEY CLAY EAT tRUMPS SHORTS !!!
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"Refugees" cannot and will not be deported. I hope you realize illegal aliens are NOT refugees. Refugees have special status and are here legally, I don't care who it is nobody can enter our national home uninvited any more than they can enter your own house uninvited.
All legitimate immigrants with refugee status will be allowed to stay in the U.S. by law. Any illegals with a request for asylum will be heard on a case by case basis. That is as it should be since we are a sovereign nation of laws.
In case you don't realize this problem has been festering under Obama and Hillary as Sec of State for years so don't start with your "Trump" this "Trump" that nonsense.. They are the ones who created the ME refugee crisis which BTW mostly they are not legitimate refugees and it's not a crisis. The Christians are the only real refugees as they are the ones being enslaved, raped, beaten and murdered by the moslem majority in these countries. The moslems are immigrants and in reality little more than invaders looking for a hand out. Look what they're doing to Europe.
REV.HOAGIE SANDWICH, WHAT about the MEXICANS ??? they ARE ALL CHRISTIANS, TALK to JOHN OWINS he is in your LEAGUE, the LEAGUE of SUPER tRUMP ARSEHEADS, DUMP the IGNORAMUS COWARDLY TRAITOR tRUMP, GOD is GREAT so is the US of A
Will be if we dump trump
Actually, yes they can. These are what the article's about:
Many of the refugees have overstayed their visas, failed to apply for asylum, or have committed a crime during their time here – thus making them prime candidates for deportation under the current administration’s policies.
“Some of them broke the rules and did not go through the process they should have."
Referring to Muslim immigrants only. I agree with you, the Christians are the "refugees" because they are the ones fleeing for their life and need protection.
My understanding is that they are all guilty of other crimes in addition to being here illegally. Anyone else have reliable info on that?