From Documented to Undocumented

I open a file from a Career Readiness class I taught a few years ago, and former student names flood my screen. Many of these refugees and asylees held Masters degrees in their home countries. They were engineers, accountants, teachers, lawyers, and nurses, longing to find their place in the professional world in the U.S. They brought decades of experience and education, not to mention multilingual capabilities that would make them tremendous assets to any company. These men and women were courageous, holding deep grief and sorrow for the home they had lost, and hope for a tomorrow that could look different for their families. I had the joy of participating in such an exciting time of their journey, a time when they made connections with future employers that saw them for all the talent and resilience they had to offer.

Which of these beautiful people that I spent hours cheering for, laughing with, dreaming alongside, who so bravely made their way here to find safety for their families, are now sitting in detainment cells? Tears roll down my cheeks, and I find myself praying “O God, O God.” Are any of them separated from their children? At the time I taught them, they were here legally. They had U.S. work authorization. They were making their way through the immense and daunting process of becoming permanent residents and citizens. But now that protections for many asylum seekers have been removed, many find themselves in a place they never expected - undocumented. My mind is reeling. If they’ve been detained, do they have enough food? Does anyone know where they are? They fled death and persecution. Are they being persecuted….here?

In the past 12 months, it’s estimated that more than 1.6 million immigrants lost their legal status that they had previously obtained from the US government.¹ The majority of these individuals received their legal status under either President Trump’s first term or the Biden administration.² This includes many asylum seekers and those with temporary protected status who had credible cases of not being able to return to their country. As a result, within the past 12 months, we’ve seen more than 1 million of these individuals become undocumented and at risk for deportation.

Due to the policy changes, it’s also estimated that 1 in 12 Christians in our nation are now at risk of deportation.³ While President Trump pledged during his campaign to prioritize the safety of Christians, recent policy changes result in persecuted Christians that our country previously welcomed and offered safety to, now being detained and deported back to places where many are likely to face danger or death. The American church must ask ourselves, what are we prioritizing? Who are we prioritizing?

On some things, I choose to be optimistic. I believe that the church, if united as we should be on the just, ethical treatment of all individuals, especially the “least of these” among us, can refuse to let political lines silence us on any issue that involves the safety or sanctity of human life. We are in a unique time where the evangelical church has quite a powerful voice in politics. If the evangelical church across our country were to unite and advocate for the ethical treatment of our brothers and sisters in Christ (as well as any family seeking asylum), the results could be unprecedented.

Take a step closer...

1. Read what the Bible has to say about refugees and immigrants, and get unbiased, nonpartisan information on policies and procedures impacting our immigrant neighbors at Biblical Resources – Evangelical Immigration Table or Women of Welcome.

2. If you are in TN, sign the Tennessee Evangelical Statement on Refugees and Immigration.

   Evangelical Pastors & Leaders Across Tennessee Urge a Biblically-Rooted Approach to Refugees and Immigration - World Relief

3. Call your Senators and Representatives and tell them you support the Bipartisan Dignity Act of 2025, which is now one of the most widely supported and endorsed Immigration Reform proposals rooted in Biblical ethics and just treatment of all immigrants. World Relief Praises Reintroduction of Bipartisan Dignity Act as Alternative to Dehumanizing, Family-Separating Detention & Deportation Policies - World Relief Contact your legislators at U.S. Senate: Contacting U.S. Senators and Find Your Representative | house.gov

¹Bustillo, X., Martinez, S., & Martínez, S. (2025, December 23). 1.6 million people lost legal right to stay in U.S. in 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/12/23/g-s1-103001/trump-immigration-deportation-migration-legal-status

²World Relief Laments Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Hundreds of Thousands of Venezuelans First Offered Protection by President Trump. (2025, 04 09). World Relief. https://worldrelief.org/pr-world-relief-laments-termination-of-temporary-protected-status-for-hundreds-of-thousands-of-venezuelans-first-offered-protection-by-president-trump/

³New Report Details the Potential Impact of Deportations on American Christian Families. (2025, 03 31). World Relief. https://worldrelief.org/pr-new-report-details-the-potential-impact-of-deportations-on-american-christian-families/