CV NEWS FEED // Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas recently laid off nearly one-quarter of its employees following President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
According to a Feb. 11 report from Houston Public Media, Catholic Charities said in a statement that its refugee program used to receive federal funding through USRAP. Due to the executive order, however, the organization has decided to lay off 120 staff members, mainly from the refugee program.
“Catholic Charities has served the community for more than eight decades,” the statement said. “Our commitment to our mission remains strong: to serve as people of faith helping people in need achieve self-sufficiency and live with dignity.”
Speaking to Houston Public Media, immigration attorney Ruby Powers said that refugee programs like the one Catholic Charities runs help non-US citizens fleeing persecution in their home country adjust to living in America. Employees of refugee programs can welcome refugees upon their arrival, help them learn English, find housing, and provide other essential services.
Houston Public Media reported that executive branch officials project the US’ refugee resettlement participation each fiscal year and USRAP “establishes admissions levels and regional allocations” for them. Powers added that the government usually sends refugees to “cities that are pretty diverse, large enough to absorb them through the economy, not to have too much of one particular nationality impact.”
Houston Public Media added that the Houston area has a high refugee population.
“According to Understanding Houston, a collaborative initiative led by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, the three largest counties in the Houston area have more foreign-born people in comparison to the U.S. as a whole,” Houston Public Media reported.
As Catholic Charities deals with the federal funding cuts, three other religious nonprofits have filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s executive order, claiming that it ignores Congress’ authority.
Melissa Keaney, senior supervising attorney at the law firm representing the nonprofits, said, “President Trump cannot override the will of Congress with the stroke of a pen.”
“The United States has a moral and legal obligation to protect refugees, and the longer this illegal suspension continues, the more dire the consequences will be,” Keaney said, according to Houston Public Media. “Refugees and the families and communities waiting to welcome them have been thrown into indefinite limbo and the resettlement agencies ready to serve them don’t know if they can keep the lights on if the government continues to withhold critical funding.”