The arrival of Afghan evacuees forced refugee resettlement agencies to bounce back from Trump-era and pandemic-related cuts. Now they are prepared for more robust resettlement in 2023.
Houston’s role as the top destination for evacuated Afghans stressed these agencies, which had diminished in scope followingBut leaders for these groups say there’s an unforeseen silver lining to the logistical hurdle of resettling more than 5,500 Afghans: Refugee resettlement in Houston is back and organizations are better prepared to welcome refugees from around the world.
Springing into action was especially difficult considering that agencies like Al Sudani’s had received so few refugees prior to the influx of Afghans. Interfaith Ministries had resettled a little more than 100 refugees in the two prior years. Suddenly, they were receiving hundreds of Afghans in a matter of weeks.The Trump administration slashed the number of refugees who could resettle each year to roughly a quarter of the Obama-era total.
Evacuated Afghan families share a meal provided by The Afghan Village restaurant in the common area of an extended stay motel in Fort Bend County. / Children of an evacuated Afghan family play in the parking lot of the hotel. A newly arrived Afghan family waits for the elevator after being greeted by volunteers and their relatives, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.Steven Hartshorn carries a headboard while unloading a truck while helping set up an apartment for Afghan evacuee family Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 in Houston. He volunteers with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Anybody who has been with us in the last year is fire tested,” said Jennifer Linscomb, director at Refugee Services of Texas in Houston, referring to her hardworking personnel. Their staff increased from roughly 25 people to 40 to handle the newcomers.
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