The Episcopal Church Has Lost Its Way On Refugee Policy
The Episcopal Church, historically a steadfast advocate for immigrants and refugees, appears to have lost its way in prioritizing the resettlement of those under arrest and seeking asylum, particularly in light of its recent actions and policies. For decades, the Church, through Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), has resettled thousands of refugees, offering support to vulnerable populations fleeing persecution, as seen in its work with over 100,000 refugees since 1980 from countries like Ukraine, Myanmar, and Congo. However, its decision on May 12, 2025, to terminate its nearly four-decade partnership with the U.S. government over the resettlement of white Afrikaners from South Africa has raised questions about its commitment to the broader immigrant community, especially those in dire circumstances. While the Church cited moral opposition to resettling Afrikaners due to its commitment to racial justice and historical ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, this move has sidelined other immigrants, including those under arrest and seeking asylum, who face immediate threats of deportation and family separation under the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies.
The Episcopal Church’s withdrawal from federal resettlement programs comes at a critical time when immigrants under arrest and seeking asylum—such as those from Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Central America—are facing heightened enforcement actions, including potential raids in churches, which were previously considered “sensitive locations” under a 2011 Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo. This policy shift, enacted by the Trump administration in January 2025, has left many asylum seekers vulnerable, with the administration reinstating measures like requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico and suspending the broader refugee program, effectively halting new arrivals except for the Afrikaners. The Church’s decision to step back, rather than adapt its advocacy to focus on these at-risk groups, seems to undermine its own resolutions, such as those from 1997 and 2022, which urge the U.S. government to maintain a just asylum system and protect vulnerable migrants. By prioritizing a symbolic stand against the Afrikaner resettlement, the Church risks neglecting its Gospel-driven call to “welcome the stranger,” particularly those in legal limbo who need immediate support and sanctuary.
Furthermore, the Episcopal Church’s historical legacy of providing safe havens—dating back to the 1800s when it sheltered enslaved people, and later during the 1980s Sanctuary Movement for Central American refugees—appears at odds with its current trajectory. Bishops like Jennifer Reddall of Arizona have voiced concerns about family separations and enforcement in churches, yet the Church’s broader action to end its resettlement partnership has drawn criticism for abandoning a practical means of support for all refugees, including those under arrest. While the Church plans to continue supporting already-resettled refugees and explore new migration ministries, this shift does little to address the urgent needs of asylum seekers facing detention or deportation. The decision has sparked debate, with some on X arguing it reflects a selective approach to humanitarian aid, potentially alienating those who see the Church as a beacon for all immigrants, regardless of origin or legal status. In stepping away from direct resettlement, the Episcopal Church may be losing sight of its foundational mission to stand with the most vulnerable, particularly those caught in the crosshairs of an increasingly hostile immigration system.
