Bishop Deborah Hutterer joined refugee advocates in response to President Donald Trump's decision to lower the cap on refugee admissions over the next 12 months to 18,000, saying it will hurt Arizona socially and economically.
The bipartisan group of state lawmakers, faith leaders and refugee resettlement groups called on local and state officials to remain committed to keeping Arizona a welcoming state for refugees. They urged the state's congressional delegation to support federal legislation that would restore refugee admissions to previous levels averaging about 95,000 admissions a year.
The Rev. Deborah Hutterer, bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said there are nearly 26 million refugees around the world.
She lamented Trump's decision to lower the cap to 18,000 and what she called "the erosion of this cornerstone principle, particularly as fear tactics and harsh politics continue to dictate the lives of these individuals."
"Let me reaffirm that refugees do not bring terror when they resettle. Rather, they are the ones who are fleeing terror," Hutterer said. "It's refugees who contribute to our community, both economically and with their passion for this country, (and) bring with them their diverse cultures and backgrounds that only enrich the United States."