An Iranian-American pastor who has been protesting against the detention of some of his church members by the US immigration service says the immigration system in the country is in need of “deep reform”.

Ara Torosian, who himself arrived in the US as a refugee 15 years ago, told Article18 that persecuted Iranian Christians like him now have no option of arriving in the US legally and that a “very deep reform” of immigration policies was needed to change this.

Mr Torosian, who pastors a church in Los Angeles, travelled to Washington DC last month to protest outside the White House, where he spent three days on hunger strike, holding up placards drawing attention to the plight of Iranian Christian asylum-seekers.

And he explained that as well as seeking policy reform, he is also hoping to raise awareness among American Christians, including those within the government, of the issues facing Christian asylum-seekers in the US.

He said that having talked to several senators as well as members of the White House Faith Office, “I found that they are aware of what’s happening to the Middle East Christians, they are aware of persecution, but … they are not aware of what’s happening inside of the [US].”

“I think most conservative Christians are supporting the new administration and President Trump,” he added. “And my goal is to bring awareness, to talk to people, encourage people to … support this cause and also support this awareness raising. I think we have lots and lots of work to do to bring awareness about what’s happening inside of the United States.”

Mr Torosian also said he had received a backlash from some, asking him why he was defending those who had arrived in the US illegally, to which he responded: “Most of them tried many times to come through a legal way, like a refugee pathway, but there is no legal way for Iranians to become refugees in the United States.”

Mr Torosian said that alongside his church members, he had heard of around 70 Iranian Christians having been detained in the Los Angeles area alone in recent months.

You can watch the full interview here.