According to analysis from the Pew Research Center, half of the refugees allowed into America during the first months of the Trump administration (January 21 – June 30) have been Christian while 38 percent have been Muslim (see chart below). That contrasts with figures during the final fiscal year under President Obama when 46 percent were Muslim and 44 percent were Christian.

Christian ethicist Dr. Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary, sees this is a move in the right direction in helping those fleeing persecution.

“It would seem to me that the wisest thing to do would be to give first priority to Christian refugees in historically Christian countries, and to give the first priority to Muslim refugees in countries of Muslim majority,” he shares. “That would be the easiest for them to assimilate, [where] they would be most comfortable.”

Land suggests Muslim refugees should be sent to Muslim-majority countries like Saudi Arabia or Turkey; in like fashion, Christian refugees should be sent to Christian-majority countries like Britain or the U.S.

“If we don’t take Christians [into Christian-majority countries], they’re going to face [religious persecution] in many countries in the Middle East …,” he observes. “One has to assume that Muslims are not going to face religious persecution in their country of origin.”

The largest number of refugees during the first months of the Trump administration (17%) came from a Christian-majority country – the Democratic Republic of Congo.