Aid groups are split on Trump's policy to prioritize Christian refugees

One of the largest persecution watchdog groups has warned that President Donald Trump's executive order that would give preference to Christian refugees could worsen religious persecution. Another aid group urged the people to understand the policy before jumping to conclusions.

David Curry, president of Open Doors USA, commended Trump for recognizing the rise of persecution against Christians. However, he warned that choosing the refugees that would be allowed to enter the U.S. based on their religion could lead to more religious persecution.

"Expediting refugee entry for those intentionally targeted by ISIS, like the Yazidis and Christians and some Muslim groups, seems appropriate. However, cherry-picking one religion over another only exacerbates the already severe worldwide trend of religious persecution," said Curry, who is recommending a "needs-based approach" that would treat refugees from all faiths equally.

Trump has stated that Christians have been horribly "treated" and noted that the temporary visa ban on citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen is meant to keep "radical Islamic terrorists" out of the U.S.

Pastor Jalil Dawood, the president of World Refugee Care (WRC), contended that Trump's policy is not a "Muslim ban" and noted that it only targets refugees from seven countries, which were also designated for additional scrutiny under President Barack Obama's visa waiver program last year.

Dawood, who fled to the U.S. from Iraq as a refugee during the war with Iran in 1982, said that while many Muslims are peaceful and just want to live like other people, there are some who have an agenda that are not so peaceful.

"I lived through persecution — Iraq, and I do not want to see my kids or others face it. It's a horrible ordeal!" Dawood told The Christian Post.

In a statement posted on the WRC website, Dawood stated that the Trump's new immigration policy is "an aggressive move," but he also pointed out that Christians and Yazidis made up less than one percent of the refugees coming from Syria in 2016.

"So, President Obama's policies (perhaps inadvertently) favored Muslim refugees from Syria over and above Christian refugees — by a long shot," he remarked.

Dawood said that he supports the U.S. and its right to defend itself, and he vowed that WRC would keep providing aid to refugee families no matter what happens during and after the temporary ban.