What’s New?
Congress and the Rescissions Package
On Friday, July 18, the House approved the rescissions package, advancing the proposed $9 billion in cuts to refugee and humanitarian funding. Among the reductions is a plan to rescind $800 million from the Department of State’s Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) program, which could potentially impact funding for Reception and Placement (R&P) Program. The claw-back of R&P funds would impact resettlement agencies efforts to provide critical services to refugees already in the United States, including Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders. LSSNCA will closely monitor the bill’s implementation and its effects on program participants.
What Else?
Pacito v. Trump
Last week, “Pacito” — the named plaintiff in the lawsuit brought by Church World Service (CWS) and several other organizations — was safely resettled with his family in North Carolina after a federal court ordered the U.S. government to do so.
In a statement, Pacito said:
“Now that I’m here, I don’t even have the words to express it. Someone who has never been a refugee cannot understand that refugees do suffer… they don’t even have basic things. But we pray and hope that this case will open the way for them and they get a chance to change their life.”
This week, the district court issued an injunction implementation framework and appointed a magistrate judge to assist with a case-by-case reliance review of refugee applications. Under Pacito v. Trump, the government must begin identifying and contacting “review-eligible” refugees by Monday, July 21. These individuals — many of whom had conditional approvals and booked flights before Dec. 1, 2024 — will soon be surveyed to assess their reliance interests as part of a court-mandated review process.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) For Afghans
On Monday, a federal appeals court temporarily extended protections for nearly 12,000 Afghans under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which had been set to expire on July 14. The stay remains in effect for one week, and the court has ordered both parties to file briefs this week.
State Department Layoffs and Restructuring
Meanwhile, the State Department has laid off more than 1,300 employees and plans to eliminate over 3,000 positions as part of a sweeping reorganization. This move could further strain the already overburdened U.S. refugee processing system. The downstream effects on visa processing, international aid coordination, and Reception and Placement (R&P) services remain uncertain.
How You Can Help
1. Donate – Support Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA)’s programs for refugees and immigrants.
2. Volunteer – Join LSSNCA as a volunteer. Opportunities range from one-day engagements and community events to long-term mentorships.
