Trump’s Travel Ban Has Serious Financial Consequences For Refugee Resettlement Agencies
Ascentria Care Alliance, a resettlement agency based in Worcester, announced Monday that as a result of Trump’s travel ban it had laid off or reduced hours for 14 employees. In this 2015 photo, an Ascentria instructor shows clients when the next WRTA bus will arrive using a smartphone app. Photo by Jesse Costa for WBUR
Refugee resettlement agencies receive funding based on the number of people they anticipate resettling, so the uncertainty around President Trump’s travel ban has serious fiscal consequences.
Jeff Thielman is the CEO of the International Institute of New England, a resettlement agency working in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. His agency expects eight refugees to arrive by March 28.
“It means that we have not filled a number of positions that were open in all three of our offices in the resettlement area,” he said. “It also means that we may have to make further reductions. We’re going to make those decisions in the next few weeks.”
Ascentria Care Alliance, a resettlement agency based in Worcester and operating in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, announced Monday that as a result of Trump’s travel ban it had laid off or reduced hours for 14 employees.