Belonging and belief: Why evangelical churches draw many migrants in the US

Many migrants find community in evangelical churches in the U.S. – part of wider shifts in the country’s religious landscape.

By: Johanna Bard Richlin, University of Maine, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 16, 2026

Words: 1,312

Last Updated: 15 hours, 22 minutes ago

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By Johanna Bard Richlin, University of Maine

In October 2024, right before the presidential election, I had coffee with Kim, a Congolese asylum-seeker living in southern Maine. Our conversation quickly turned to politics, and I cautiously asked about her views, although she could not vote.

During his campaign, Donald Trump had vowed mass deportations, and I assumed immigration policies would be among her top priorities.

But instead, she quickly turned to matters of faith, …

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