Mobilizing Grassroots Community Support For Local Refugees Before Federal Cuts

Donald Trump s victory on November 8th marked the beginning of a controversial transition in Washington with Republicans winning a majority in both the House and Senate. With Republican control of both the legislative and federal branches of government, the future of the United States Refugee Assistance Program (USRAP) and federal support for refugees across the United States remains unclear. As part of his first 100 days in office , President-Elect Trump has announced his plan to suspend immigration from terror-prone regions. This will undoubtedly include areas in the Middle East that have remained in the political spotlight since Syrian refugee resettlement became a contested topic through the West.

As the Trump-Pence Administration begins to transition, the appointed secretary of Homeland Security will be forced to make tough decisions from day one. While a list of potential candidates floats around the internet, it remains unclear who will be selected. On September 30, President Obama announced his plan to increase the resettlement total to 110,000 refugees for the 2017 fiscal year (FY). This increase comes after the close of the Obamas 2016 Syrian Refugee program that resettled 12,000 Syrians to the United States from Jordan. Previously, the United States received 85,000 refugees in 2016 and 75,000 each year since 2013. The largest proposed number of refugees will be resettled from the Near East (Middle East) and South Asia where nearly 12 million people are identified as refugees (See figure below). Should Trump suspend immigration from Middle East countries and other terror-prone regions, refugees fleeing conflicts in these regions (Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Eritea, etc.) will likely be affected. However, it is yet to be determined which countries will be included in the immigration suspension.

In preparation for federal cuts, grassroots refugee support networks will play a critical role in bridging the services gap. There are thousands of refugees who have already been resettled that rely on resettlement service providers for assistance during their first several months in the United States. Resettlement providers in many states have received large cuts in state funding for social services leaving many organizations and refugees without critical support. This gap in support will only widen should federal funding for resettlement also be cut. Presently, religious organizations and institutions across the country form a large portion of refugee support in the community. As allies and volunteers, the burden of bridging the support and services gap will fall onto the communities and neighbors of refugees. The efforts of local communities today will ensure that success of resettled refugees tomorrow.

While the future of USRAP is still uncertain, one thing that remains certain is that local communities, humanitarian service providers, and resettlement agencies must be prepared for large cuts in funding. Now is the time to build networks of local churches, mosques, temples, and businesses ready and willing to contribute to the success of refugees in their community.

For more information on the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program, read The Future of Refugee Resettlement in the United States: A Prediction

Follow Jesse Marks on Twitter at JESCMarks