Washington – The Trump administration has directed refugee resettlement groups to stop using some federal funds in light of the president suspending U.S. foreign aid, according to a U.S. State Department memo obtained by CBS News.
While refugee resettlement groups are still struggling to explain the scope of the funding freeze, advocates believe the move will hurt their efforts to integrate refugees into communities across the United States.
John Slocum, executive director of Refugee Council USA, a coalition of groups supporting people displaced by violence, said it would be “immeasurably cruel” if the Trump administration's funding suspension affected reception services for refugees.
Slocum said, “This unprecedented decision undermines our moral and legal obligations to the people we promised to protect – and to the communities that welcome them.” “These core services serve as a lifeline for resettled refugees and Afghan special immigrant visa holders assisting the U.S. mission.”
Hours after taking office, Mr Trump enacted an indefinite pause On admission refugees, who are identified as people fleeing war and violence in foreign countries and who undergo a years-long screening process before they can legally enter the US. It will not be restarted until the President arrives Determines to resume refugee arrivals “Is in the interest of the United States.”
Those helping refugees said the order to freeze funding could hinder their ability to provide critical assistance to refugees already in the US, including Afghans who had aided the US war effort in Afghanistan.
Refugee advocates fear the directive could affect the amount of money resettlement agencies use to help refugees during their first 90 days in the U.S. as part of the government-supervised welcome program. That assistance includes casework, childcare, food and housing assistance, and other key social services designed to put refugees on a path to self-sufficiency in the US.
In a notice Friday, resettlement agencies, many of which are faith-based groups, were told that some of their federal funding awards have been “immediately suspended.”
“Immediately upon receipt of this notice of suspension, the recipient must cease all work under the award and incur no new costs after the effective date mentioned above,” the memorandum from the rehabilitation agencies said. “The receiver must cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible.”
It's unclear how much money is being withheld by the Trump administration overall.
The State Department did not immediately respond to questions about the funding freeze, including whether it affects funding for refugees already allowed into the US, as well as Afghans who have sought refuge in the US. Aided in military efforts and who were awarded special immigrant visas.
While under Mr Trump's order every nationality is banned from coming to the US as refugees, the administration is still allowing Afghans with these special visas to enter the country.
