JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Catholic Charities Jacksonville on Wednesday laid off 26 employees from its refugee program following President Donald Trump’s executive order that halted the arrivals of new refugees to the country, the organization’s CEO told News4JAX.
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Before the executive order, the U.S. would typically allow 125,000 refugees to be admitted each year. They are people forced out of their countries, usually because of violence.
They must go through an extensive application and vetting process and do not get to choose where they are ultimately relocated.
The layoffs left Catholic Charities with a “skeleton crew” to help refugees who arrived in the country prior to Jan. 20, according to Anita Hassell, CEO of Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc.
She told News4JAX on Thursday that the executive order also resulted in their office not getting reimbursed for already-rendered services back in November.
According to Hassell, the amount that is owed to the organization exceeds $600,000.
For that reason, Hassell said the organization had “no choice” but to lay off the staff in the refugee program due to a lack of funds to support their salaries.
Trump, whose first administration sharply cut refugee admissions, immediately suspended the decades-old program upon taking office again in January. He and his proxies have criticized refugee resettlement and other avenues of immigration.
According to its website, for more than 80 years, Catholic Charities Jacksonville has served the local community as a compassionate helper, respected leader and reliable partner.
“Our fundamental belief is that we have a responsibility to care for those in need by meeting basic human needs, restoring dignity, and assisting toward self-sufficiency. Catholic Charities puts faith into action to serve the most vulnerable in our community, advocating for justice, human dignity and quality of life, while reflecting the compassion of God in Christ,” the organization states.
Catholic Charities offers several resources, including emergency financial assistance, disaster relief, refugee resettlement programs, legalization and immigration services.