For the past four years, I have been involved in refugee resettlement through the Ethiopian Community Development Council, assisting primarily Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in finding homes in the Washington, D.C. area.

Convincing a landlord to lease an apartment for $2,000 a month to a new family that has just arrived in the country and lacks income, a driver’s license, or a Social Security number is challenging. On one occasion, I entered an apartment complex in Northern Virginia and spoke with a woman at the front desk. I assured her that my agency could help cover the rent temporarily until the family could afford it. She replied, “Who will help us?”

I knew she was expressing concern about why I was assisting newcomers when many Americans, like her, also needed support. She politely informed me that they had no available apartments, and I thanked her and departed.

The next day, I received a call from that same leasing agent, who said she managed to convince her manager to make some units available for the refugees I was assisting.

Trump’s executive order halts refugee resettlement, leaving 2,000 Afghans in uncertainty

President Donald Trump’s election victory in November was largely supported by voters who favor stricter immigration policies and closed borders. Recently, Trump enacted an executive order that indefinitely halts the resettlement of refugees in the United States, impacting approximately 2,000 Afghan refugees who may now be denied entry.

Nonetheless, as Trump begins his next term, I trust in Americans like that hesitant leasing agent, who can offer help to others while also hoping for assistance themselves.

Most of the refugees I assist have previously aided the U.S. and now expect our support in return. Many stood shoulder to shoulder with American forces during the twenty-year conflict in Afghanistan or have fled from the aggressive advance of Russian troops as Ukrainians. They worked locally with U.S. embassies, the United Nations, or the U.S. military.

For many, coming to America was not their first choice. They enjoyed stable lives with decent jobs and homes until the Taliban started door-to-door searches in late 2021 looking specifically for them. I’ve heard numerous accounts of Afghans burning documents that linked them to the U.S. (only to later need that proof for visa applications), handing their house keys to a relative, and heading to the nearest border or airport.

I have also guided many Afghans through the complex U.S. immigration system, which involves years of paperwork, extensive background checks, medical clearances, and lengthy periods in refugee camps before they enter the U.S. A friend I last saw in Kabul called me and said, “Bob, I’m in Virginia. What should I do now?” I had to remind myself that assisting people in leaving situations of persecution is just the first chapter of their journey.

In my recent experiences, I have met numerous refugee families at Washington Dulles International Airport, reminding them during the car ride that they need to quickly focus on locating an apartment, enrolling their children in school, opening a bank account, and finding employment. I emphasize that once the bills start arriving in America, they will keep coming.

Many refugees face challenges right from the beginning, and I sometimes worry about their futures. However, they often surprise me by finding stability and adapting to life in America more rapidly than I anticipated.

I once found myself lying on the floor with a pregnant Afghan woman as we took turns trying to disassemble a couch that had become stuck in her front door. A year and a half later, she invited me to her son’s graduation ceremony in Virginia, where he received honors. Today, she and her husband are saving money to buy a house with a backyard for their children.

Some of the refugees I once assisted are now my colleagues at the resettlement agency, helping others through similar challenges.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my resettlement work is witnessing the genuine kindness displayed by average Americans.

I once took six Afghan children to a halal market, and someone in line behind us insisted on sharing the $250 grocery bill upon learning it was their first day in America.

Recently, a retired scientist in Maryland offered me a prayer mat from his basement to give to any Muslim refugee in need. He also generously contributed to an emergency fund I created to assist with unforeseen challenges, such as accommodating an Afghan mother and four children stranded at the airport or helping an elderly Ukrainian man found sleeping in his vehicle.

Each morning, I check the fund’s account and notice new contributions from ordinary individuals wishing to positively impact the lives of others.

Refugees’ immigration status often remains uncertain

Although my Ukrainian and Afghan clients and colleagues are all legally in the country, their immigration status can still be unstable.

Ukrainians are increasingly anxious as their temporary protected status – recently extended by the Biden administration on January 10 for some, but not including those arriving after August 2023 – is set to expire next year. At that point, the Trump administration will have the authority to decide their future.

As for the Afghans, they have entered legally but under temporary humanitarian parole status, and many currently have pending asylum applications in hopes of gaining permanent residency. These asylum requests may face increased scrutiny, and the process for them to bring close family members from Afghanistan to the U.S. can be both lengthy and complicated.

As Trump continues with his policy agenda, I am concerned that the immigration status of my friends and colleagues will soon be influenced by his administration.

However, I remain hopeful that nothing he does will diminish the big-heartedness of countless Americans, like the leasing agent who made an effort to assist those who have come seeking the hope and freedoms that America has always represented.

Bob Elston is a grant writer for the Ethiopian Community Development Council, founded in 1983 to assist Ethiopians displaced by conflict. It is one of about 10 U.S. resettlement agencies authorized by the State Department.