Trump administration suspends some funding for refugee resettlement teams, memo says
Washington — The Trump administration has directed refugee resettlement teams to cease utilizing some federal funds in gentle of the president’s suspension of American international help, based on a U.S. State Division memo obtained by CBS Information.
Whereas refugee resettlement teams are nonetheless scrambling to interpret the scope of the funding freeze, advocates consider the transfer will have an effect on their efforts to combine refugees into communities throughout the USA.
John Slocum, the chief director of Refugee Council USA, a coalition of teams supporting these displaced by violence, mentioned the Trump administration’s funding suspension could be “unfathomably merciless” if it impacts reception providers for refugees.
“This unprecedented determination undermines our ethical and authorized obligations to these we promised to guard – and to the communities who welcome them,” Slocum mentioned. “These core providers function a lifeline for resettled refugees and Afghan Particular Immigrant Visa holders who assisted the U.S. mission.”
Hours after taking workplace, Trump enacted an indefinite pause on admissions of refugees, who’re recognized as folks fleeing battle and violence abroad and who endure a years-long vetting course of earlier than being admitted into the U.S. legally. It won’t be restarted till the president determines resuming refugee arrivals is “within the pursuits of the USA.”
Those that assist refugees mentioned the funding pause order might hinder their capacity to offer important help to refugees already within the U.S., together with Afghans who aided the American battle effort in Afghanistan.
Refugee advocates worry the directive might have an effect on funds resettlement companies use to assist refugees throughout their first 90 days within the U.S. as a part of a government-overseen reception program. That help consists of casework, childcare, meals and housing help and different key social providers designed to put refugees on a path to self-sufficiency within the U.S.
In a discover on Friday, resettlement companies, a lot of that are faith-based teams, had been instructed a few of their federal funding awards had been “instantly suspended.”
“Successfully instantly upon receipt of this Discover of Suspension the Recipient should cease all work beneath the award(s) and never incur any new prices after the efficient date cited above,” the memo to resettlement companies says. “The Recipient should cancel as many excellent obligations as potential.”
It is unclear how a lot cash total is being frozen by the Trump administration.
The State Division didn’t instantly reply to questions concerning the funding pause, together with whether or not it impacts funding for refugees already allowed into the U.S., in addition to Afghans who assisted American navy efforts and had been awarded Particular Immigrant Visas.
Whereas each nationality is banned from coming to the U.S. as refugees beneath Mr. Trump’s edict, the administration continues to be permitting Afghans with these particular visas to enter the nation.
