Omar’s Journey from Persecution to PTSD
Omar, a Pakistani asylum seeker in Thailand, fled his homeland at age nine after his family was targeted for converting from Islam to Christianity. Pakistan ranks eighth globally for Christian persecution, and blasphemy laws carry death penalties. In Thailand, Omar’s family overstayed their visas while seeking refugee status. When he was 16, Thai police detained and assaulted him. Fear and trauma during COVID-19 lockdowns led to years of isolation, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts.
The Fight for Resettlement
For 13 years, Omar’s family lived in a cramped Bangkok apartment. Thailand, not a signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention, treats refugees as illegal immigrants. Omar’s father was imprisoned for an expired visa. Supporters in Texas, Mike and Kathie Jackson, partnered with Freedom Seekers International (FSI) to help resettle the family through the Welcome Corps program. They raised funds, secured housing, and completed all application requirements. But in early 2025, the Trump administration suspended refugee admissions and terminated Welcome Corps, halting Omar’s path to the U.S.
Arrests and Detention of Other Christian Refugees
The program’s termination also impacted other FSI-supported Christians. Thai authorities recently arrested 48 Montagnard Christians from Vietnam, including three families FSI had been helping resettle in Texas. The arrests occurred during a memorial service and appear financially motivated. The detainees, including children and pregnant women, face overcrowded, unsanitary conditions in Bangkok’s Immigration Detention Center.
Efforts to Secure Release and Ongoing Uncertainty
FSI and local churches have raised bail money—around $1,500 per adult—and are now awaiting paperwork approval to secure the release of all 48 detainees. Despite these efforts, refugees remain vulnerable. Former Trump supporter and FSI founder Deana Brown criticized the administration’s decision to end Welcome Corps, calling it counterproductive. Others worry the lack of U.S. support emboldens Thailand to align with authoritarian regimes like China and Vietnam.
Hope Amid Hardship
Omar and his supporters remain committed. The Jacksons continue to lobby lawmakers to restart Welcome Corps. Omar, clinging to his faith, says he won’t give up. “There’s no life for us here,” he said, “but I’ll try my best to do the best with my life.”
Source:
US Refugee Ban Halts a Pakistani Christian Family’s Resettlement
Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash
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