President Trump’s suspension of the Refugee Admissions Program — a legal pathway for resettlement established by the federal government in 1980 — and other actions taken or threatened against those with legal status will have a devastating impact on immigrants in New Jersey, a state where one-quarter of the population is foreign-born. Community groups are pivoting and expanding to help. But let’s be clear — the actions being taken by the administration are based on at least three false or misleading statements.
First, Trump’s order claimed that the U.S. lacks the ability to absorb migrants, “in particular, refugees.” In fact, New Jersey has plenty of capacity. Three of the national resettlement agencies have major operations here and others have affiliate offices in the state. And many community-based organizations augment and extend the assistance provided by government-funded agencies. CBOs organize residents of all ages and backgrounds, school groups, faith organizations and businesses to donate their time and talents as well as money to buy what can’t be donated. The collaboration of resettlement agencies and CBOs enabled 1,407 refugees to resettle here in the past 16 months — about 1% of the total nationwide.
Second, Trump’s order also implied that refugee resettlement compromises the availability of resources for Americans. However, a government study he commissioned in his first term revealed that refugees had a significant net positive effect on the economy, contributing billions more in revenue than they consumed in public services.
Third, Trump’s order also claimed that public safety is at risk by refugee admissions and resettlement. Those resettled in New Jersey in the past 15 months — like all those resettled in the U.S. — completed rigorous vetting overseas focused on ensuring national security. It included biographic and biometric checks against FBI, Homeland Security and Department of Defense databases, in-person interviews by officers of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency, and extensive medical evaluations — a process that can last years before a refugee is approved for resettlement, and is more thorough than the vetting for some government officials.
Widespread impact
The actions by the administration will impact new arrivals, those already here and others whose now-legal status may be summarily revoked.
Hopes of refugees already resettled in New Jersey to reunite with spouses and children still overseas have been crushed as suspension of the program means the door is closed to new arrivals. This includes family members who had been fully vetted and ready to travel.
Jennifer Gill, executive director of One World One Love, a community organization that operates in Union, Essex and Hudson counties, told me about an Afghan client who was targeted by the Taliban because he worked in support of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. He’s been separated from his wife and three young children. She said “Every time we meet, he asks about his family. He was our wartime ally and it may take years for him to see his family again. How is this right?” Volunteers and staff of CBOs know of many such heartbreaking stories of unrequited family reunification and try to provide emotional support.
In addition to suspending new arrivals, funds for resettlement operations have been frozen, leading to uncertainty as to whether the agencies can provide support to refugees who arrived shortly before the suspension, notably the 90 days of “reception and placement” support covering essential needs such as housing and food. Refugees are hearing mixed signals and are afraid the support system they were promised when they arrived will not be there to help them during their critical first months in the U.S. CBOs are providing help where they can. Gill told me, “Recently resettled clients are scared and confused about the changes. They’re worried about finding jobs and paying their rent. We may not have all the answers, but we can be a friendly neighbor who can help them find their way.”
It’s not just new and recent arrivals that will be affected because, as Gill notes, “Their needs don’t disappear after 90 days.” The spending freeze will mean cuts to resettlement agency staffing and caseworker services to those who have been here longer than 90 days but who still need help.
Jill Segulin, executive director of Refugee Assistance Partners which helps refugees and other new immigrants who have resettled in Union County, told me, “We are expanding our intensive client services to help people reach self-sufficiency, knowing their assigned resettlement agency might not have the bandwidth or resources to attend to some clients, especially those who have been in the U.S. for a while.” Gill told me, “Our Empower program, launched two years ago to assist newcomers with job searches, has evolved to include support in areas such as healthcare, tenant rights, and education.”
At Welcome Home Jersey City, where I serve as chair of the board, we may not have new arrivals to welcome for a while but we can and will help the many immigrants already in our community by offering English instruction; assisting with matters related to work, housing, education and health care; and nurturing social connections — all building blocks of successful resettlement and integration.
In addition to suspension of the refugee program, several executive orders attempt to terminate or revoke other legal immigration statuses. This could leave hundreds of thousands suddenly without legal status and at risk of deportation.
Welcome Home Jersey City is reaching out to all our clients to clarify their immigration status, reassuring those who are not at risk and helping others to change their status and make sure they have valid work authorization. We have partnered with another nonprofit First Friends of NJ & NY to help us. Together we have held Know Your Rights workshops in several languages. We have also begun difficult conversations with our friends about having a family emergency plan in case of being detained or deported. Segulin told me, “Because some legal immigration statuses are now being revoked — making legal immigrants illegal — RAP is expanding services to help with the costs associated with obtaining green cards (legal permanent residency) for those eligible to apply. This includes helping pay the hefty fees for required medical exams.”
Paralyzing fear
Immigrants of all statuses are experiencing paralyzing fear as they are vilified as criminals.
“This will negatively affect their ability to get and keep jobs or interact in schools without being bullied,” Segulin cautions. “The possibility of revoking legal statuses exacerbates this fear, as individuals worry about a cascade of consequences leading to deportation and potential harm upon return to their countries of origin.”
This environment erodes trust in law enforcement, and community cohesion is weakened when parents are afraid to send their children to school, or use health care facilities, or access other public benefits to which they are entitled. This is the true risk to public safety, not the admission of refugees who have been extensively vetted and followed all legal pathways to resettle in the U.S. And this is why CBOs have lined up in support of passage of the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act which will keep personal information safe and expand critical protections.
“We’ve been here before,” Gill reminded me. “During the first Trump administration and the COVID-19 pandemic, we pivoted our programming to continue to meet the needs of the people we serve. And we’ll pivot again.”
Carol Graham, president of Refugee Assistance Morris Partners, a volunteer organization helping refugees resettle in Morris County, concurred. And Segulin summed it up: “We have to overcome our shock and disbelief so we can act swiftly and nimbly. Information combined with more volunteers and more funding empowers us to protect and serve the people we are dedicated to helping.”