This week the Trump administration suspended the nation’s refugee resettlement program, leaving 1000’s of individuals – who had been cleared and scheduled to return to the U.S. – in a limbo.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
President Trump took many actions this week to restrict immigration, together with an govt order suspending the refugee resettlement program. About 10,000 folks fleeing battle or persecution had already gone by way of a protracted screening and approval course of. They’d scheduled journey to the U.S., and all these plans had been all of the sudden canceled.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
A type of folks is Jacombo Marembe, who has lived in a refugee camp in Tanzania for 26 years.
REINE MAREMBE: (By means of interpreter) He’s unhappy that he is not going to come as a result of he has ready all the things and now feels all is misplaced.
SUMMERS: His sister, Reine Marembe, spoke to us in Swahili. She spent 23 years in that very same refugee camp after her household fled violence within the Democratic Republic of Congo. She got here to the U.S. by way of the refugee program in 2022 together with her husband and their 5 youngsters.
SHAPIRO: She’s resettled in Fayetteville, Arkansas, however her dad and mom and different siblings are additionally on the camp in Tanzania ready for his or her alternatives. Reine’s brother, Jacombo, had cleared the vetting course of and was purported to arrive in early February.
MAREMBE: (By means of interpreter) I had ready correctly for a celebration. I had ready for drinks, meals and a lot extra.
SHAPIRO: With the refugee program at present suspended, it’s now unclear when that reunion will occur.
MAREMBE: (By means of interpreter) I’m very upset on this final result. I really feel actually unhealthy about how issues have unfolded.
SHAPIRO: Krish O’Mara Vignarajah has been serving to folks like Reine and her brother. She is president and CEO of the resettlement company World Refuge. Thanks for becoming a member of us.
KRISH O’MARA VIGNARAJAH: Thanks a lot for having me.
SHAPIRO: You recognize, through the marketing campaign, President Trump was very clear about his intentions to clamp down on the paths folks used to return to america. So did this govt order take you abruptly, or was it just about what you anticipated?
VIGNARAJAH: It did nonetheless shock me as a result of President Trump had clearly been clear on the marketing campaign path that he had a robust desire – supported authorized immigration over unauthorized migration. However refugee resettlement is this system that represents the gold customary of authorized immigration pathways when it comes to safety screening, neighborhood coordination, mutual financial profit. And so I used to be disheartened to listen to that refugee resettlement was suspended.
SHAPIRO: You talked about screening. President Trump and his allies have, prior to now, stated that we do not know sufficient about who’s coming to america by way of the refugee program. What sort of a course of does somebody need to undergo to qualify for refugee standing?
VIGNARAJAH: Yeah, so refugees are fleeing for his or her lives. They’ve skilled political persecution, spiritual persecution. They undergo years of intense vetting that features FBI, CIA, interpol checks, well being clearances. And solely when these processes have been accomplished have they got an opportunity at resettling within the U.S. It oftentimes takes a 12 months or two, if not a decade, to undergo that course of. And for the refugee households which might be fortunate sufficient, they’re the choose few as a result of lower than 1% of the world’s refugees are ever resettled.
SHAPIRO: In the course of the first Trump administration, the refugee program was suspended, after which it resumed at a lot decrease numbers. This govt order says this system will probably be reevaluated inside 90 days. What’s your expectation of what occurs on the finish of these three months?
VIGNARAJAH: Properly, I hope that it signifies that this system will probably be resumed and that we are going to have a strong pathway to assist those that are fleeing for his or her lives? We have resettled as many refugees beneath Republican administrations as Democratic ones. For instance, President Reagan resettled 600,000 refugees, and so I hope that will probably be greenlighted on this 90-day interval.
SHAPIRO: One of many justifications on this govt order is that the present variety of immigrants is straining American communities and their assets. Has that been your expertise within the communities the place you could have helped resettle refugees? What have you ever seen?
VIGNARAJAH: Yeah, so I feel general, it is vital to take a step again and perceive we hear each day from firms who’re determined for the form of pushed, dependable staff that refugees characterize. However refugee resettlement is a singular program as a result of we work with a state refugee coordinator who’s – explains what the situations are on the bottom, whether or not there, , are sufficient assets to assist these households.
There is a complicated algorithm that takes into consideration the job market, inexpensive housing, whether or not the household has a U.S. tie. And we work with the State Division to really decide the place these households go. So it takes into consideration and makes positive that native communities aren’t simply overwhelmed, however that they are excited and that they are collaborating to assist the households.
SHAPIRO: Krish O’Mara Vignarajah of World Refuge, thanks for speaking with us.
VIGNARAJAH: Thanks a lot for having me.
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