Withhold refugee aid raises alarms
Resettlement agencies in NJ looking for clarity
By: Hannan Adely
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... A New Jersey nonprofit is making a desperate plea for donations and volunteers after the Trump administration froze funding for refugee programs, including for services that aid refugees who have already arrived in the United States.
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The Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale, CEO of Interfaith RISE, based in Highland Park, [NJ] said the action threatens to hobble services hat help newcomers fleeing conflict and persecution to rebuild their lives and move toward self-sufficiency.
..... "At 5 PM. Friday, [01/24/2025] we got a call from our Washington office and were told there was a cease-and-desist order that had been put in place and that we were not to use a dime of money that we signed contracts for," Kaper-Dale said.
..... "We have people who came in January, [2025] and we can't even give them a penny of the money that was supported to go to them. We have rented houses, and it's all on us now. We are scrambling to come up with it."
..... The U.S. State Department informed agencies in a letter Friday [01/24/2025] that they must stop all work related to the paused federal grants and "cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible." The announcement came just days after President Donald Trump suspended refugee admissions for 90 days pending a review - part of a wider crackdown on immigration to the country.
..... The State Department calls it a pause, and resettlement magnetics are still trying to get clarity on what the directive means for them. Ten agencies, which have affiliate around the nation, have contracts to resettle refugees in 2025.
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"Today's [01/24/2025] funding freeze immediately impacts support and critical infrastructure for the program and will significantly curtail the ability of the U.S. to welcome newcomers in the future," Church World Service said in a statement. "The refugees we serve every day deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives in dignity and become thriving members of our communities."
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Mark Hetfield, president of HIAS, a resettlement agency formerly known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, wrote in a statement that "the magnitude of these stop-work orders is unprecedented and breathtakingly cruel," compelling the organization to "stop providing critical services."
..... "This includes Afghans who helped U.S. troops and people who flied war and religious persecution in countries like Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, and Iran," he wrote. "They along with the communities that had prepared to welcome them will now be abandoned."
..... Trump has cited national security and availability of resources as reasons for suspending admissions. advocates note that refugees are the most vetted group to enter the U.S., going through a years-long process of background checks, interviews and medical screening.
..... They also contribute to the economy as workers and consumers. One federal study found that over a 15-year period, refugees contributed $123 billion more than they have cost in governmental expenditures.
'Unthinkable to suspend funding
.... advocates worried as Trump took office. He had slashed admissions to historic lows in his first term and has espoused anti-refugee rhetoric. But they were blindsided by the move to suspend funding for refugees who are already here, said Kaper-Dale, of Interfaith-RISE.
..... "We did everything in our power to prepare for a storm, and we are nowhere near prepared for this," he said. "I don't know what else to say other than it;s unthinkable."
..... Interfaith-RISE, an affiliate of the U.S. committee for Refugees and Immigrates, has received 190 refugees since October 1 [2024] and expected to help about 600 more at the four New Jersey offices in Highland Park, Vinland, Asbury Park/Neptune and Trenton/Hamilton this fiscal year. [2025] "RISE" stands for Refugee and Immigration Services and Empowerment.
..... Refugee agencies get $1,650 in federal funding per client to help for up to 90 days with rent, household expenses, clothing and other needs. They also provide job placement, tutoring, English classes and guidance on obtaining social services, as they help refugees move to self-sufficiency.
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Since Friday, [01/24/2025] the nonprofit had laid off 20 people out of about 1000 staff members and turned 20 full-time positrons into part-time ones.
..... "We are still really unclear how this will all play out," Kaper-Dale said. "We just brought in 200 people who need the front-end support. We signed contacts to support refugees, believing we would have resources to do it right."
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The nonprofit has appealed to the public for donations and seek volunteers who can help newcomers as tutors and mentors, among other roles. They also help them navigate new surroundings, including getting them to medial appointments and explaining public transpiration.
..... Information can be found on the group's website, interfaithrise.org .
..... Other agencies that help place and settle refugees in New Jersey include Church World Service, which has a office in Jersey City, the International Rescue Committee, with an office in Elizabeth and Catholic Charities, in Newark and Camden.
..... The U.S. made a commitment to help refugees who "deserve our dignity and our respect," Kaper-Dale said.
..... "We are in a place where we can help," he said. "We want New Jersey to remain the welcoming place we have seen it be."