Secretary of State Press Office

Yesterday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem asking that the Trump Administration hear the asylum claims of Afghan Christian refugees currently residing in the United States prior to sending them back to Afghanistan, where Christians face persecution and even execution by the Taliban.

“In the wake of celebrating Easter, the most important event in Christianity, I learned that several Afghan Christian refugees currently residing in the United States were told they had to return to Afghanistan,” said Secretary Raffensperger. “Many of these Afghan Christians had risked their lives for religious freedom and democratic values in service of American forces in-country, and we should make sure we hear their asylum claims before sending them back to a government that is known to persecute Christians.”

Secretary Raffensperger called on the Trump Administration to ensure a full and fair vetting of the Afghan Christians’ asylum claims before any removal proceedings are initiated.

“Afghanistan under the Taliban remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians,” he said. “Reports from multiple organizations, including Help the Persecuted and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom confirm that Afghan Christians face targeted violence, state-sponsored persecution, and near-certain execution under Taliban interpretations of Sharia law.”

“In alignment with Georgia and the United States’ longstanding commitment to religious liberty, and the values enshrined in our Constitution, I respectfully urge that all asylum claims are heard prior to the return of affected Afghan Christians to the Taliban,” said Raffensperger.

Secretary Raffensperger concluded by reaffirming Georgia’s and America’s shared tradition of defending human rights and religious liberty.

“America has long stood as a beacon of hope to the oppressed and a defender of religious freedom. I respectfully request that DHS continue in that tradition in how they treat these Afghan Christian families,” Raffensperger continued. “Our nation’s moral leadership is defined not just by the policies we enact, but by the people we choose to protect.”