NEW MILFORD, Conn. — Rogers Lopez is acutely aware of the fortune his family has encountered as they move into a furnished two-bedroom apartment in suburban Connecticut just ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Lopez, along with his wife Karina Cañizarez and their young son Jesus, are refugees from Venezuela and Colombia. Upon their arrival in December, they received considerable assistance from a dedicated group of volunteers. This scenario reflects a national trend as resettlement organizations across the country worked diligently in the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s time in office to find housing for refugees. This urgency was heightened by the expectation that Trump would impose stringent restrictions, potentially halting this pathway to safety and citizenship.
“The refugee process is always challenging,” Lopez, aged 29, noted, explaining that he fled Venezuela due to “political issues.” He expressed concern that the situation will become even more arduous in the future.
Since its establishment by Congress in 1980, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has facilitated the resettlement of over 3 million individuals escaping persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group membership, or political beliefs. Trump had previously set strict caps on refugee admissions during his first term and has promised to suspend resettlement efforts altogether as part of a broader initiative to combat what he describes as a “migrant invasion.”
In contrast, Biden increased the annual refugee admissions target, emphasizing the generosity of the American spirit and the significant contributions refugees make to the U.S. economy. In the final quarter of 2024, nearly 30,000 refugees were accepted, nearing Biden’s annual cap of 125,000. By comparison, Trump allowed only about 11,000 refugees to enter the U.S. during the last year of his first term—the lowest number since resettlement initiatives began.
Michele Shackelford, president of the New Milford Refugee Resettlement group assisting Lopez and his family, expressed that there is a heightened sense of urgency among volunteers due to the expectation that immigration procedures may come to a sudden halt when Trump assumes office.
Unlike asylum-seekers who make their way directly to the U.S.-Mexico border, these refugees undergo a more extensive vetting process. Following an evaluation by the U.N. refugee agency, they are interviewed by U.S. immigration officials and must undergo criminal background investigations and medical screenings, which can take several years.
With the looming threat of Trump potentially shutting down refugee admissions, Maria Mostajo, a former Manhattan prosecutor, and Carolyn Setlow, a retired business executive, have worked diligently to assist families in Connecticut through their Washington Resettlement Project.
“If Trump assumes office and either halts these admissions or reduces acceptable numbers, it means that fewer families in the pipeline will make it through,” Mostajo explained.
Following the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, Mostajo and Setlow organized a community meeting to rally support for settling an Afghan family of six. Their efforts, which included a GoFundMe campaign and a fundraiser hosted by a local distillery, raised around $80,000, along with supplies, furniture, and various support services.
Realizing they could enhance their impact, Mostajo and Setlow began awarding grants of up to $10,000 to other volunteer groups to assist additional families. Since the election, they have provided funding to the New Milford group and several others, with additional support on the way.
In response to Trump’s election win, organizations like Church World Service encouraged the establishment of private sponsorship groups across the nation as part of the Welcome Corps initiative, launched by the U.S. State Department in 2023, aimed at having citizen groups take responsibility for incoming refugees. These groups must secure a minimum of $2,425 per refugee to cover initial living expenses for the first 90 days.
Larger resettlement organizations are responsible for making the necessary matches. For Connecticut specifically, federal officials informed Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) in New Haven to expect around 130 refugee arrivals from late November through January. With federal funding of $3,000 per refugee, IRIS reached out to approximately 50 community organizations to facilitate resettlements before Inauguration Day.
In just a fortnight, the New Milford volunteers managed to find an apartment for the Lopez-Cañizarez family, filling it with food, toys, and thrift store furniture. They aspire for the family to integrate into the community, secure employment, and take full responsibility for their living expenses within a year.
Surprised by the level of support they received, the couple never anticipated they would find themselves in a safe and welcoming environment.
“We had no idea,” Cañizarez relayed in Spanish. “This has been amazing for us because these are incredible people… they have embraced us like family.”
Lopez, along with his wife Karina Cañizarez and their young son Jesus, are refugees from Venezuela and Colombia. Upon their arrival in December, they received considerable assistance from a dedicated group of volunteers. This scenario reflects a national trend as resettlement organizations across the country worked diligently in the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s time in office to find housing for refugees. This urgency was heightened by the expectation that Trump would impose stringent restrictions, potentially halting this pathway to safety and citizenship.
“The refugee process is always challenging,” Lopez, aged 29, noted, explaining that he fled Venezuela due to “political issues.” He expressed concern that the situation will become even more arduous in the future.
Since its establishment by Congress in 1980, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has facilitated the resettlement of over 3 million individuals escaping persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group membership, or political beliefs. Trump had previously set strict caps on refugee admissions during his first term and has promised to suspend resettlement efforts altogether as part of a broader initiative to combat what he describes as a “migrant invasion.”
In contrast, Biden increased the annual refugee admissions target, emphasizing the generosity of the American spirit and the significant contributions refugees make to the U.S. economy. In the final quarter of 2024, nearly 30,000 refugees were accepted, nearing Biden’s annual cap of 125,000. By comparison, Trump allowed only about 11,000 refugees to enter the U.S. during the last year of his first term—the lowest number since resettlement initiatives began.
Michele Shackelford, president of the New Milford Refugee Resettlement group assisting Lopez and his family, expressed that there is a heightened sense of urgency among volunteers due to the expectation that immigration procedures may come to a sudden halt when Trump assumes office.
Unlike asylum-seekers who make their way directly to the U.S.-Mexico border, these refugees undergo a more extensive vetting process. Following an evaluation by the U.N. refugee agency, they are interviewed by U.S. immigration officials and must undergo criminal background investigations and medical screenings, which can take several years.
With the looming threat of Trump potentially shutting down refugee admissions, Maria Mostajo, a former Manhattan prosecutor, and Carolyn Setlow, a retired business executive, have worked diligently to assist families in Connecticut through their Washington Resettlement Project.
“If Trump assumes office and either halts these admissions or reduces acceptable numbers, it means that fewer families in the pipeline will make it through,” Mostajo explained.
Following the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, Mostajo and Setlow organized a community meeting to rally support for settling an Afghan family of six. Their efforts, which included a GoFundMe campaign and a fundraiser hosted by a local distillery, raised around $80,000, along with supplies, furniture, and various support services.
Realizing they could enhance their impact, Mostajo and Setlow began awarding grants of up to $10,000 to other volunteer groups to assist additional families. Since the election, they have provided funding to the New Milford group and several others, with additional support on the way.
In response to Trump’s election win, organizations like Church World Service encouraged the establishment of private sponsorship groups across the nation as part of the Welcome Corps initiative, launched by the U.S. State Department in 2023, aimed at having citizen groups take responsibility for incoming refugees. These groups must secure a minimum of $2,425 per refugee to cover initial living expenses for the first 90 days.
Larger resettlement organizations are responsible for making the necessary matches. For Connecticut specifically, federal officials informed Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) in New Haven to expect around 130 refugee arrivals from late November through January. With federal funding of $3,000 per refugee, IRIS reached out to approximately 50 community organizations to facilitate resettlements before Inauguration Day.
In just a fortnight, the New Milford volunteers managed to find an apartment for the Lopez-Cañizarez family, filling it with food, toys, and thrift store furniture. They aspire for the family to integrate into the community, secure employment, and take full responsibility for their living expenses within a year.
Surprised by the level of support they received, the couple never anticipated they would find themselves in a safe and welcoming environment.
“We had no idea,” Cañizarez relayed in Spanish. “This has been amazing for us because these are incredible people… they have embraced us like family.”
