WASHINGTON, DC: September 20, 2018. (PCP) IDC believes that the reduction in refugees allowed for entry into the United States next year is immoral and sends the wrong message to vulnerable populations around the world. In particular, the number of religious minority refugees from the Middle East has declined at an alarming rate in recent years. The Evangelical Immigration Table has noted a 98.5% decrease in the number of Middle Eastern Christian refugees admitted to the U.S. when comparing the first half of 2016 to the first half of 2018. This trend will only worsen when the newly announced refugee cap goes into effect. This is not just a matter of moral responsibility. The U.S. national security community continues to advocate against lowering refugee admissions because accepting refugees can support the stability of U.S. allies with large refugee populations, such as Lebanon and Jordan. Furthermore, reducing refugee admissions is also counterproductive to U.S. counterterrorism strategy. The U.S. is a beacon of hope and freedom to the world. To abdicate our responsibility to protect and welcome those in imminent danger is contrary to our values. While everyone agrees on the need for immigration reform, the U.S. should not extinguish the light we offer to those seeking refuge. There are 25 million refugees in the world today, the highest number in recorded history. IDC calls on the Trump administration to reverse course and raise refugee admissions to meet humanitarian and national security needs.