SPRINGFIELD — When people immigrate to the United States, religious organizations, such as Catholic Charities and Church World Services, are often the primary point of contact, working with the federal and state governments to provide a support system while immigrants and refugees get settled. With the abrupt changes to federal immigration policy that have occurred since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, many of these groups are struggling to continue their missions and help vulnerable people in need.
Jewish Family Services is a religious-based nonprofit community institution. First established in 1898, the organization operates programs that support new Americans, young adults, elders, caregivers, people renewing their Jewish connections. Through Jewish Family Services’ resettlement program, known as Reception and Placement, works with the organization HIAS and the U.S. State Department and has helped about 500 refugees have resettled in Western Massachusetts of the past five years. Through Jewish Family Services, refugees have been able to learn English, gain employment, learn about resources and make connections in their community.
On Feb. 6, members of Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts’ leadership hosted a Zoom call with concerned community members to discuss the policy changes and their impact.
Funding freeze
Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 27 that instructed the Office of Management and Budget to freeze federal funds that had already been appropriated by Congress. On Jan. 31, U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued a temporary stay of Trump’s order after 22 states sought an injunction. However, agencies and organizations around the country reported that funding was only partially released or not released at all. McConnell issued a follow-up order on Feb. 10, again ordering the funds to be released. The next day, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s request to lift McConnell’s order.
Chief Operating Officer Sara Bedford explained that federal contracts, such as the ones through which Jewish Family Services works with the U.S. State Department, as reimbursements. There were 138 clients of Jewish Family Services who had arrived in December and January. The funding that was earmarked for their resettlement is now in limbo.
“Each refugee is assigned roughly $1,650 in direct assistance, and the agency is provided $1,350 in administrative funding to provide services to each client,” Rabbi James Greene, CEO of Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, later explained to Reminder Publishing. “Currently, we are owed roughly $800,000 in federal funds, split roughly $500,000 for Reception and Placement and $300,000 in other refugee programs.”
Bedford had said the impacts have been “huge for a nonprofit.” Layoffs were expected at various chapters of Jewish Family Services across the country.
Resettlement Coordinator Alina Dyachenkom said the work stop “hit families and staff pretty hard” and was “devastating” for newly arrived families who were relying on promised funding for resettlement needs, such as securing an apartment. Bedford shared the story of a family that had $8,000 dedicated to their resettlement, but it cannot be used by the family or reallocated for any other purpose.
Greene said that while Jewish Family Services is complying with orders from the federal government, it is “steadfast” in its resolve to not abandon its clients. He said the organization is “committed to a vision of welcoming people and strengthening communities.”
Dyachenkom said the focus has shifted to identifying what support can be provided without running afoul of the law. The resettlement staff is being retrained, and her team has been moving families into other programs run by Jewish Family Services, including its behavioral health program. While families are not receiving the services they were promised by the government, Dyachenkom said the organization is trying to ensure they “don’t fall through any cracks.”
However, Bedford said that, depending on the length of the funding freeze, other programs might also begin to suffer. Until the federal funds are released, the organization is relying on local funds, state money and donations, and otherwise “weaving different sources together.”
Stress and fear
Employment Specialist Fikiri Amisi spoke about his personal experience as a refugee. He and his family lived in a refugee camp for 12 years. During Trump’s first administration, he had undergone a two-year screening process and been approved but was abruptly informed that he would not be able to come to the United States. He spoke about the “mental [and] emotional stress” it caused. He said pauses to resettlement programs often mean families must restart the immigration process. Eventually, Amisi was able to immigrate and was resettled through Jewish Family Services. However, nine families that were scheduled to arrive in the area for resettlement have had their travel plans canceled.
“We have a history of welcoming refugees,” in the U.S., Amisi said. “Being resettled is the greatest option a refugee can have.”
He added, “We cannot remain silent.”
Refugees are not alone in feeling the strain of policy changes. Abubakari Bigirimana, a case manager, said newly arrived families are “very worried” that they will be deported. Bedford added that hearing about raids by Immigration, Customs and Enforcement agents in large cities has made some of the organization’s Haitian-Creole clients afraid to pick up their government assistance checks of attend English classes. Schools, churches, synagogues and mosques are no longer the “sanctuary spaces” they have traditionally been, she said.
Work-stop
The funding freeze is not the only impediment to resettlement efforts. Trump also signed an executive order just hours after being inaugurated that halted the resettlement of people entering the country and revoked a 2021 executive order that strengthened U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, implemented a special immigrant visa for Iraqi and Afghan allies and order a review of how climate change is driving migration. The Trump administration’s order, “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” declared that “entry into the United States of refugees under the USRAP would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.” It also went into effect on Jan. 27.
“In total, we were anticipating receiving 475 refugees this year,” Greene said. “Previously arranged travel of individuals and families has all been halted and there is no [current] plan to reschedule any refugee arrivals.”
Greene added that a work-stop order was also implemented by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services in connection to another of the Trump administration’s executive orders, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” the primary stated goal of which is to end birthright citizenship. According to Greene, the work-stop order “impacted our Citizenship and Integration Program — a program where we offer citizenship classes to prepare legal permanent residents to apply for U.S. citizenship.”
He added that despite ongoing lawsuits related to these orders that have been filed by various organizations, “The work-stop for both Reception and Placement and the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services grants are still in place. We are no longer able to provide those services.”
Greene said people can help by contacting their legislators or volunteering to host a refugee family or teach English as a Second Language classes. Specifically, Greene said the organization was seeking someone to host a mother and her 10-year-old daughter for a couple of months; searching for a place to play basketball for a Ugandan family in love with the game; and looking for a three-bedroom apartment in or around Springfield for a family of six and an apartment in Amherst for a family of three.
Immigration policy changes
At the same time that funding for resettlement and the work of federally funded organizations has been halted, some immigration programs are being eliminated. Greene said the humanitarian parole programs, such as the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans program and the Uniting for Ukraine and Welcome Corps private sponsorship program were paused or canceled. These programs grant legal entry into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons. If not recognized under another legal immigration status, these individuals may be vulnerable to deportation, despite being in the country legally with approval to work.
Greene also noted that the president signed the Laken Riley Act, which allows for the detainment and deportation of people in the United States without documentation who are arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting, regardless of whether they are convicted, or admit to “acts that constitute the essential elements” those crimes. Greene said the law removes the individual’s due process rights.
With the situation rapidly shifting, Bedford recommended avoiding rumors and seeking up-to-date information on the country’s immigration policies through the Massachusetts Immigrant Resettlement Group and immpolicytracking.org.
For more information about Jewish Family Services and its resettlement program, visit jfswm.org.
