The Trump administration's stop-work order on refugee resettlement has created a crisis for families who have already arrived in the United States and those who are still waiting abroad. Bay Area nonprofits are struggling to support the refugees who depend on them, and families face an uncertain future.
After waiting for several years, Shamiran, 18, and her family had less than two days to pack up and leave behind their lives in Iraq when they were granted permission to come to the United States as refugees. With only a few personal belongings, the family arrived in Chicago on January 19th, hoping for a new beginning. However, their arrival coincided with a wave of uncertainty and fear for refugees across the country.
The Trump administration had issued a stop-work order that froze the work of resettlement agencies and their local nonprofit affiliates, leaving many already arrived refugees vulnerable. These nonprofits, which often serve as refugees' first point of contact, were scrambling to cope with the sudden loss of funding. They had been instrumental in supporting hundreds of refugees who had already arrived, providing essential services like housing, social services, and job placement assistance. Now, those vital resources were at risk.Shamiran's family, like many others, found themselves in a precarious situation. They had received minimal support from the government, a one-time stipend of $1,650, and a few essential items. Before the stop-work order, they had been relying on the Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley for crucial assistance, navigating the complexities of their new lives. The situation is particularly distressing for refugees like Madhi, 30, who fled Afghanistan and completed his 90 days of resettlement services just before the order took effect. Without the support of the resettlement agencies, Madhi fears he would have been homeless, highlighting the critical role these organizations play in helping refugees rebuild their lives. The halt in refugee resettlement has also created a ripple effect, impacting families with loved ones still waiting abroad. Sayed Agha Dawlati, an Afghan refugee living in Concord, had traveled to Qatar to bring his daughters to the United States when their travel plans and refugee status were abruptly canceled. Dawlati is now facing an uncertain future, separated from his daughters and struggling to provide for his family. The situation has left him feeling devastated and hopeless, fearing for the safety of his family members still in Afghanistan
REFUGEES IMMIGRATION TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NONPROFITS BAY AREA RESETTLEMENT
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pa. refugee resettlement group is furloughing 2/3 of its staff following Trump’s refugee suspensionChurch World Services, which provides refugee resettlement services in the region, furloughed 150 employees in Pa. and N.J. in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump.
Read more »
Bay Area flood watch issued as rainfall hits North BayA flood watch is in effect for the entire Bay Area through late Sunday, with the North Bay expected to experience the heaviest rainfall from an incoming atmospheric river.
Read more »
Bay Area Storm Brings Heavy Rain, Flooding to North BayA Level 2 storm hit the Bay Area this weekend, causing heavy rain and flooding in the North Bay. The storm resulted in closed roads, canceled events, and concerns about wind-related damage.
Read more »
Executive order indefinitely suspends Refugee Resettlement programOne of President Trump's first executive orders has placed a halt on many refugees bound for the U.S. Here in Utah, dozens of refugees are now left in limbo.
Read more »
Trump's Refugee Order Leaves Rochester Resettlement Efforts UncertainA recent executive order halting refugee admissions has cast a cloud of uncertainty over resettlement efforts in Rochester, New York. Catholic Charities Family and Community Services, a key organization in this process, expresses concern about the impact of the order on its work assisting refugees.
Read more »
Chicago refugee resettlement organization receives stop-work order from federal governmentThe humanitarian organization World Relief Chicagoland was given a 'stop-work' order on Friday as part of an executive action from President Donald Trump.
Read more »