The End of Refugee Resettlement
4 hours ago
- #human rights
- #refugee crisis
- #U.S. immigration policy
- A Sudanese Nuba family fled persecution in Sudan and sought refuge in Jordan, hoping for resettlement in the U.S. through the UNHCR.
- Due to arriving after a registration cutoff, they lacked legal status and faced economic hardship, with Hiba working informal cleaning jobs.
- The family experienced racial discrimination and violence in Jordan, including attacks on their son Amar, affecting his mental health.
- In 2023, they applied for resettlement through the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and were conditionally approved by late 2024.
- In January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, canceling their plans and causing widespread disruption.
- Trump's policies shifted refugee admissions to prioritize Afrikaners from South Africa, while refugees from countries like Sudan faced travel bans.
- IRAP filed a lawsuit against the suspension, and refugee resettlement organizations faced funding freezes and layoffs.
- Other refugees, such as a Syrian family in Zaatari camp and an Iraqi family, also had their resettlement canceled, leaving them in limbo.
- Mental health and support services for refugees in Jordan, like those from the Center for Victims of Torture, were defunded and halted.
- Hiba's family now faces eviction, medical issues, and uncertainty, with few resettlement options available globally.