The Trump administration has made a significant decision to abruptly halt services for refugees in the United States, including Afghans, as per a memo obtained. This move has left agencies that provide crucial support to recent arrivals stunned and scrambling to understand the implications.
The memo, which affects tens of thousands of refugees, appears to bar them from receiving assistance such as caseworker support and housing during their first three months in the country. This decision is particularly concerning for Afghans who aided the US during the war and are now at risk of being left without essential support.
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order suspending refugee admissions as part of a broader effort to restrict entry into the US for reasons of public safety and national security. This action has already led to the cancellation of flights for approximately 10,000 refugees who had completed the lengthy process of securing travel to the US.
However, the memo issued on Friday takes things a step further, according to multiple sources. Resettlement agencies, which rely on federal funding from the State Department to assist refugee arrivals, have been informed that all work under these awards must cease immediately.
This sudden and sweeping decision has raised concerns about the welfare of refugees, with advocates warning that many individuals could end up homeless as a result. The move has been described as unprecedented and has left many in the refugee support community shocked and scrambling to find solutions.
Efforts to seek clarification from the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration regarding the memo have been made, but as of now, there has been no official comment on the matter.
