Afghan refugee in Concord worries about Trump's order to freeze resettlement funds

Assad used to help the United States military as an education specialist when he lived in his native Afghanistan, and he resettled in Concord last month under a special immigrant visa program because of threats to his life from the Taliban.

Since his arrival with his wife and three children in December, Assad, who asked that his full name not be used and his face not be shown, has been receiving help from the Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay –  one of the many resettlement agencies nationwide targeted under a Trump administration order this week that suspended federal funding for these groups. 

"It's a challenge right now because President Donald Trump stopped our aid," Assad said in an interview with KTVU on Wednesday. "It affects us, to get a job. How to get to the hospital? We don't have a car." 

He said that since he's been here, JFCS caseworkers have been helping him make medical appointments and find a school for his children.

But that help might dry up if federal grants are frozen.

"Before this, I received a lot of help," he said. "For this reason, we need agency support and assistance to manage our lives here."

What we know:

The federal refugee program — a form of legal migration to the U.S. — has been in place for decades and assists those who have escaped war, natural disaster or persecution.

But a Jan. 24 letter sent to one of the resettlement agencies from the State Department stated that its resettlement grant funding is "immediately suspended" pending a review of foreign assistance programs, which President Donald Trump ordered over a 90-day period. 

The letter — from the department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration — said a decision would then be made on whether the funding would be restored, altered or cut entirely.

The agency must immediately "stop all work" and "not incur any new costs" under the grant. The letter said the agency "must cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible."

This foreign assistance was stopped before the Trump administration tried to pause all federal grants and loans on Tuesday, which then was rescinded on Wednesday. 

Both directives are part of an ideological review of government spending.

Religious organizations shoulder the bulk of refugee resettlement work in the United States. Out of the 10 federally funded national agencies that resettle refugees, seven are faith-based.

Local perspective:

JFCS East Bay CEO Robin Mencher 

In the Bay Area, JFCS East Bay has 33 open cases, which totals about 100 people, resettle in the United States. 

JFCS East Bay resettlement program manager Homayoon Ghanizada, who came here from Afghanistan on a special immigrant visa, said he feels an obligation to provide basic services to refugees in 90 days. 

"There's a lot of services which sets them up for independence and success," he said, adding that case mangers work behind the scenes to find refugees with no work or credit histories in this country, to find jobs and housing "It's also the time when they are most vulnerable. It's heartbreaking." 

What we don't know:

And like many others, there is widespread confusion as agency leaders seek greater clarity from the government. The most pressing question is how they will continue supporting refugees already under their care in the United States.

"What does a stop work order mean?" JFCS East Bay CEO Robin Mencher asked. "It's a little ambiguous. Do these 33 new families count as new work? Or is it someone who comes in the future?" 

She said her staff is still sorting out what everything means, describing their feelings as being in the middle of "shock and developing an action plan." 

By the numbers:

Figuring out how much money will be affected is a little tricky.

That's because there are about two dozen JFCS East Bay employees whose salaries are tied up in helping refugees, among their other duties, Mencher said. 

But the "stop work order" issued last week entails roughly $600,000, Mencher said, and there is possibly another $800,000 related to refugee funding that "could be in jeopardy." 

Since 2022, JFCS East Bay has helped 7,000 people and delivered more than $3.5 million since 2023. 

Why you should care:

Mencher said that despite the possible freezing of funds, her organization has a "moral obligation" to refugees, especially Afghans who helped the United States fight the Taliban.

"We are committed to making sure that families can find paths to self-sufficiency," Mencher said. 

To that end, she's imploring regular people to step up by donating money, volunteering and writing to politicians. 

"We can't wait for the courts to decide," she said. " We need to continue that work, and we need the community to step up. Donations are the No. 1 thing we need right now." 

JFCS East Bay resettlement program manager Homayoon Ghanizada. 

What you can do:

Despite it all, Assad feels lucky to be in the United States.

He was under threat from the Taliban. He had lost his job there, too.

And even though he's worried about his immediate future in Concord and what assistance he will get in his new homeland, he's grateful for what he has.

"I'm still happy to be here," he said. 

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED: If you'd like to help and learn more about the resettlement process, click here. 

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