Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada pauses refugee program in response to Trump order

English as a Second Language students attend a class for beginners at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Many of the students are refugees. Photo by Steve Marcus

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada has paused its refugee resettlement operations for 90 days in the wake of an executive order from President Donald Trump suspending the United States Refugee Admissions Program, the organization told the Sun this week.

“Several flights” with refugees planned from late January through March have been canceled, the organization wrote in a statement.

The organization, which in the 2023 fiscal year resettled 5,700 refugees, helps bring safety to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

“Despite these challenges, we continue to provide essential services to our existing clients, including case management, employment services, cultural orientation, health screenings, health and wellness workshops, temporary refugee cash assistance and youth mentoring,” Catholic Charities wrote.

In announcing the executive order last month, the White House said the country had been “inundated with record levels of migration, including through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.” It detailed how some jurisdictions “declared states of emergency because of increased migration” and singled out New York and Massachusetts.

“The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees,” the White House wrote.

But New York’s emergency declaration wasn’t caused by refugee resettlement programs. Over 100,000 migrants and asylum seekers came to New York City from spring 2022 to when the declaration was signed in October 2023. During the 2023 fiscal year, fewer than 4,200 refugees and visa holders resettled throughout the state, according to New York’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada has not laid off any employee who previously worked in its “reception and placement” program, instead moving them to refugee support services for the time being.

Other refugee programs across the country haven’t been so lucky.

Galveston-Houston Catholic Charities in Texas recently cut 20% of its workforce and Jewish Family Service of San Diego gave its staff a two-month notice of potential layoffs this week.

And at the national level, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops cut a third of the staff in its migration and refugee services office last week, according to National Catholic Reporter.

“The conference does not have the funds to continue operations in USCCB Refugee Services at the current levels,” a conference memorandum read. “This will be a burden on (local Catholic Charities) and the people they serve and will result in staff layoffs.”

The federal funding freeze, despite a court order blocking it, has also dealt a major blow to refugee services that largely depend on money from the government to conduct their work.

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada was awarded around $32 million from the federal government during the 2024 fiscal year.

“At this time, we have no additional information to share but will continue to monitor developments closely and keep our community updated,” Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada wrote to the Sun.

[email protected] / 702-990-8923 / @Kyle_Chouinard