In Laurel, Maryland, a refugee named Rahmani, who once worked for a U.S.-backed organization in Kabul, is facing hardships in America after fleeing from Taliban threats. He arrived in November through a legal channel meant to quickly integrate refugees by offering comprehensive support like housing and job placement for an initial three months, with additional federal grants for five years. Unfortunately, the situation changed drastically after the Trump administration abruptly halted funding for the refugee program. Consequently, Rahmani’s aid was cut short after only two months, leaving him struggling to pay rent and seek employment without success.
Local resettlement agencies, already overwhelmed, face severe challenges due to a massive funding disruption. Rahmani is associated with Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), a faith-based group awaiting $3.7 million in federal reimbursement for services they’ve provided. Because of the halted funds, the agency laid off 75 employees and furloughed others, impacting support for its clients. The majority of these clients are Afghan allies who received U.S. protection after the Taliban takeover. They maintain anonymity due to ongoing safety concerns.
The impact on LSSNCA clients is profound, with over 40 families, including nearly 170 individuals in Virginia and Maryland, receiving eviction notices. Staff members are actively fundraising and negotiating with landlords to prevent further evictions, having raised $500,000 in recent weeks, a fractional remedy compared to the halted federal supports. Global Refuge, the parent body of LSSNCA, has a long-standing partnership with the federal government but has faced layoffs affecting hundreds of staff and pausing aid for thousands of recently arrived refugees.
Nationwide, similar agencies cope with the fallout affecting over 30,000 new arrivals. LSSNCA saw 369 refugees in their first 90 days in the U.S., with 850 more eligible for extensive services as the program was cut. “We are witnessing the dismantling of a bipartisan program that has saved millions of lives,” expressed Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, head of Global Refuge.
This crisis reflects an unsettling twist for refugees who initially fled chaos only to face new uncertainties in the United States. LSSNCA, accustomed to challenges, saw an immense surge in demand following the hurried U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, ramping up to accommodate 500 arrivals monthly. Despite the rush, their work was government-backed until delayed payments curbed service quality.
One refugee, Marjila Badakhsh, who worked for a U.S.-funded media outlet in Afghanistan, settled in Virginia in December 2021 and soon joined LSSNCA staff. However, she too was laid off following the federal pause, casting doubt on her future in America. Looking for jobs in Virginia and California, where her brother resettled, Badakhsh’s hopes to reunite her family in the U.S. remain on hold.
Legal battles loom over the administration’s policies, with a recent case partially favoring three faith-based agencies challenging the suspension. Federal lawyers have argued that initial benefits are not legally obligated, with compliance to court orders potentially taking months. Recently, Global Refuge obtained partial federal reimbursement under the Biden administration through the Department of Health and Human Services. Still, funds for work since January or aid via the State Department have not been received.
The administration’s changes have cast a shadow over a traditionally bipartisan refugee program, sparking uncertainty and significant humanitarian concerns across resettlement networks.
