GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A West Michigan nonprofit that has increasingly stepped into refugee resettlement around the world is calling on President Trump to let more refugees into the United States.

Bethany Christian Services says the United States should open its doors to at least 85,000 refugees.

In late 2017, the White House dropped the cap on refugees to 45,000 from 100,000, citing safety and cost concerns. In reality, United States is likely to let in about 25,000 refugees, according to numbers Bethany Christian Services is tracking.

The Trump administration's decision to cap refugee admission to 45,000 could have "devastating results" for highly vulnerable refugees such as unaccompanied minors, individuals with urgent medical needs, torture survivors and persecuted religious minorities, the organization said in a letter sent earlier this year.

More than 75 percent of refugees are women and children who have suffered torture and violence.

"They are the most vulnerable of the vulnerable," said Chris Palusky, Bethany's new CEO.

Bethany is among nine agencies, mostly faith-based organizations, that have worked for decades with the U.S. government to settle refugees.

"Our faith and God's loving kindness to us and this nation compel us to support refugees. We ask that you view the refugee and immigration crisis through the eyes of those seeking refuge from persecution. America can and should be that place of refuge," read part of the letter to Trump signed by Palusky and Bethany's board of directors.

The group sent a similar letter to the President last year.

"We would hope the administration would be open to our conversation," Palusky said. "We hope to see it as a value to the fabric of the U.S."

Since its start nearly 75 years ago as an adoption agency, Bethany has evolved into a world-wide social services agency now primarily focused on refugee resettlement and foster care.

On any given day, there are about 1,200 children in Bethany's U.S. foster care program. The organization served more than 2,230 refugee children and adults arriving in the United States in 2016, according to the most recent data available.

Over the past 40 years, Bethany's refugee work has developed a niche focused on children, many of whom arrive in camps or the United States as unaccompanied minors.

In response to fears that terrorist might pose as refugees, Palusky pointed out that refugees go through a two-year, 16-step comprehensive vetting process to gain approval to enter the country.

"We want to get the word out that refugees aren't what people envision. They are usually mom and kids," Palusky said.

His career in the nonprofit sector began with resettling refugees in Atlanta 20 years ago, and has expanded to relief and development work around the world. Most recently, he worked in Tacoma, Washington as vice president of private funding for World Vision International.

Palusky took the helm from Bill Blacquiere, who retired in late 2017 after 31 years with Bethany. Blacquiere played a significant role in growing Bethany into one of the world's largest global Christian social services organization, with a presence in 36 states and 15 countries.

The organization is stepping up its efforts to take a larger role in responding to the worst global refugee crisis since World World II. There are currently 22.5 million refugees -- who are among 65.5 million people forcibly displaced around the globe.

"If we don't speak for refugees, they don't have a voice," Blacquiere said.

Bethany recently hired Nate Bult, former legislative director for U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, who is tasked with increasing the organization's profile with both lawmakers and other agencies.

"Our hope is to open doors," said Bult, who is based in Washington D.C. "There's good will on the hill."

Bult said his goal is to put Bethany at the table with other social service organizations to come up with solutions for addressing the global refugee crisis.

Inside the organization's headquarters, at 901 Eastern Ave. NE in Grand Rapids, the the walls are decorated with photos of foster children from all over the world who have been helped by the non-profit.

Bethany's work is supported by hundreds of churches, business and others donors. The organization also has a network of 400 businesses who provide jobs to refugees, helping them make the transition to the country.

Bethany has been expanding its work in refugee camps around the world as the United States is letting in fewer refugees. Often, there is a need for foster care in the camps.

In Grand Rapids, Bethany has a healing center for victims of torture which provides counseling to about 5,000 refugees annually. Many of those receiving counseling are children. Some are so traumatized by their experiences they have shut down and won't talk.

The organization has built a reputation for providing counseling service to help refugees who have suffered from war, sex and slavery trafficking and severe abuse by terrorist organizations.

"That's one of the reasons we are going to refugee camps," Blacquiere said. "United Nations has asked us to come into help."