Amid a whirlwind of information— and misinformation—about the U.S. refugee resettlement program, this week 60 Minutes brings us one of the most comprehensive looks at America’s response to the global refugee crisis with its investigative report, Finding Refuge. The piece gives us an inside look at who refugees are, the process they must all go through before entering the United States, and the differing attitudes of Americans on their arrival.

After taking us through the squalid Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, which is home to some 80,000 Syrian refugees, 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker interviews State Department head of resettlement Gina Cassem about their hopes for resettlement.

“Mostly we focus on victims of torture, survivors of violence, women-headed households, a lot of severe medical cases,” said Cassem. “[Refugees] undergo so many steps of vetting, so many interviews, so many intelligence screenings, so many checks along the way. They’re fleeing the terrorists who killed their family members, who destroyed their houses. These are the victims that we are helping through our program.”

The United States successfully met its goal of settling ten thousand Syrian refugees this year, but with 4.7 million Syrian refugees in the world today, the United States and others must do more.

The U.S. response to the refugee crisis has largely been shaped by the rhetoric of some lawmakers, state officials, and media talking heads, who attempt to paint the refugee resettlement program as a threat to national security. Although their concerns have been roundly refuted by the nation’s top national security experts and military brass, some of the largest pushback to this rhetoric is stemming from the faith community.

60 Minutes interviews Georgia pastor Bryant Wright, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Wright joins a growing number of faith leaders who are coming out strongly in support of refugees, regardless of political leaning. In fact, over 1,180 evangelical congregations partnering with the nonprofit World Relief helped meet this year’s resettlement goal.

“Our calling…is far higher to follow Christ and do what Christ teaches us to do than whether there’s an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ behind your name. And that’s what we’ve got to live by far more than what people are hearing on talk radio, or on the news or from political candidates,” Wright told 60 Minutes. “Isn’t it better to reach out and love these folks than to give them the cold shoulder? Which approach do you think might cause a Muslim refugee to be more sympathetic to Islamic terrorism? Which approach? To me it’s a no-brainer.”

More convincing still are the facts and figures on the Syrian refugees that now call America home. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the resettlement system is doing what it can for those that need it most: over 80% of the Syrians resettled this year were children.  

Have reactions to share, or want to learn how you can be involved in our efforts to raise veteran voices in support of refugees? Find us on Facebook or Twitter, or contact us at vfai@humanrightsfirst.