LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On Tuesday, Claudine Irankunda had just escorted her 3-year-old daughter past airport security when her husband, whom she hadn’t seen in a Rwandan refugee camp for over three years, rushed through the crowd to embrace her.

Gloire Sadiki, a Congolese refugee who had settled in the area before his wife was allowed to join him, held her tightly while carrying a handmade paper bouquet. He felt a sense of relief as his family reunited just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, fearing that the U.S. refugee program might soon come to a halt.

“If they hadn’t arrived this month,” Sadiki said, hugging the child he had only known as a baby, “their separation could have lasted much longer. Now I can finally begin my life in the U.S.”

Throughout the country, refugee communities and resettlement organizations are anticipating the possibility that Trump may halt or limit the U.S. refugee program, which would disrupt thousands of long-planned resettlements.

Trump has characterized the refugee program as a potential security risk and promised at a campaign rally last year that he would “restore the travel ban, suspend refugee admissions, stop resettlement, and keep terrorists out of our country” from his first day in office.

During his previous term, Trump attempted to restrict travel from several Muslim-majority nations, paused admissions, and drastically reduced the annual refugee admission limits to historic lows. This led to funding cuts that severely impacted or shut down many U.S. resettlement organizations.

Supporters argue that the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, which has typically received bipartisan support, serves some of the most vulnerable and thoroughly vetted immigrants who significantly contribute to their new communities.

It’s still unclear how campaign promises will translate into actual policy. A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team has not responded to inquiries regarding this issue. Additionally, discussions about the refugee program might be overshadowed by Trump’s broader plans for mass deportations.

Many resettlement organizations, which assist refugees in finding housing, learning English, and securing employment, expect a severe decrease in admissions, undermining a program that President Joe Biden aimed to expand to resettle over 100,000 refugees in the fiscal year 2024, marking a 30-year record.

In the past few weeks, advocates have been encouraging others to contact lawmakers to support finalized resettlements while preparing to rally volunteers and donations should cuts occur.

Advocates for refugees warn that another reduction by the U.S., the world’s leading destination for resettlement, could also exacerbate rising anti-refugee sentiments in other nations, particularly at a time when conflicts and humanitarian crises have led to nearly 44 million refugees globally, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

“Halting refugee resettlement as we know it would have catastrophic consequences, not just for thousands of families seeking safety, but also for America’s standing as a global humanitarian leader,” declared Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president of Global Refuge, a faith-based nonprofit that supports refugees. “When we take a step back, other nations may use that as justification to close their borders as well.”

Uncertain Future for a Revived Refugee Program

In 2021, Tamim Bedar hurried to escape the Taliban as it took over Afghanistan amid the U.S. withdrawal. As an Afghan citizen who had worked with aid organizations supporting the American mission, he faced serious threats.

He evacuated on a U.S. flight, starting a new chapter with his family in Louisville aided by a resettlement agency. He enrolled his children in school, eventually purchased a home, and has sought permanent residency.

However, his brother, who is also in danger due to his work with U.S.-affiliated organizations and Afghanistan’s former government, has not yet made it to safety. Ongoing logistical challenges have prevented him from successfully navigating the U.S. refugee program, though Bedar remains hopeful.

Now, though, Bedar expressed concern, saying, “there is anxiety that the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program will greatly slow down under the new administration.”

Shawn VanDiver, who leads #AfghanEvac, a group supporting Afghan refugees, has called on the new administration to maintain the issuance of Special Immigrant Visas for those Afghans who directly assisted U.S. forces. Furthermore, there are 30,000 to 40,000 Afghans and their families who worked for civil society or non-governmental organizations and do not qualify for special visas; they require resettlement as traditional refugees.

Since the Refugee Act of 1980, over 3 million refugees fleeing persecution or humanitarian crises have been resettled. In fiscal year 2023, more than two-thirds of resettled refugees originated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.

Unlike those who seek asylum after reaching U.S. borders, refugees are referred by the United Nations refugee agency and must submit their applications from overseas. (Only about one percent of all refugees are referred for third-country resettlement.) They undergo thorough security checks carried out by U.S. law enforcement and intelligence, as well as medical evaluations and interviews, a process that can take many years.

Once approved, refugees are resettled through ten agencies, many of which are faith-based, that cooperate with the program and local affiliates throughout the country to aid refugees in securing housing, healthcare, and jobs. They can eventually apply for citizenship.

Despite some critics arguing about the program’s costs, a federal study found that refugees contributed $123 billion more than they have consumed in government expenditures over a 15-year span.

However, the program allows presidents to set annual admission caps and can be paused at their discretion. George W. Bush temporarily did so following the September 11 attacks.

During his first term, Trump attempted to put a stop to refugee admissions temporarily, implementing “extreme vetting” that delayed security checks and lowered annual admissions to 11,814 in 2020. This funding shortfall, along with other measures, led to cuts and closures in resettlement organizations, reducing overall capacity by 38%, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

“Some cities that once had four or five resettlement agencies now only have one or none,” remarked Erol Kekic, senior vice president for programs at Church World Service.

Under Biden, the program was revitalized, with increased funding and staffing, resulting in a surge in application processing. Figures show that admission interviews rose from 1,252 in 2020 to 159,394 by 2024.

Still, the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which outlines potential priorities for a second Trump term, has suggested cutting refugee admissions.

Trump could also pause admissions for review or halt resettlement from specific countries, and he may revive political support for empowering states to refuse refugee resettlements, as noted by Chris Opila, a staff attorney at the American Immigration Council.

While a court blocked such an executive order during Trump’s first term, the current conservative majority in the Supreme Court and increased support in Congress may change that situation.

At present, an air of uncertainty hangs over refugees awaiting resettlement or family reunification in cities and towns throughout the country.

Preparing for Change

Kashidi Sungura is among those who have been anxiously waiting.

Sungura, 48, escaped the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo several years ago. In the midst of turmoil and brutality, she lost contact with her two young sons. She endured over ten years living in a Tanzanian refugee camp, tormented by the thought of their absence.

It wasn’t until she relocated to northwest Arkansas in 2019 with her five other children that she discovered her sons were alive and now in their twenties. The family has been working towards reuniting and recently appeared to be nearing completion of all necessary approvals, including DNA testing.

However, as of this week, they still hadn’t been scheduled for travel. She worries that changes to the program could result in significant delays. To maintain their refugee status, individuals must not return to their home country, according to advocates.

“It really hurts to think about it,” she expressed.

Joanna Krause, executive director of the resettlement organization Canopy Northwest Arkansas, noted that such distress is quite common. Her organization currently has six families whose flights are set for after the inauguration.

Recently, refugee advocates have been striving to clarify the distinction between unauthorized immigrants crossing the border and legally resettled refugees, amid increasing political tensions surrounding the refugee resettlement process.

In North Carolina, Randy Carter, pastor at Durham Temple Baptist Church, shared that his congregation has extended shelter and additional support to new refugees. However, he’s seen some more conservative churches hesitating to do the same due to security concerns voiced by certain members of the congregation. Often, there is confusion about the various immigration pathways.

Wisconsin has also witnessed heated discussions regarding the reception of refugees, according to news reports. Republican U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin introduced a bill last year that would empower states and local governments to deny refugee placements.

Last month, Tiffany reached out to refugee officials expressing that his constituents were worried about resettlement plans being implemented in central Wisconsin without adequate local feedback.

Yet for individuals like Irankunda, who arrived this week just before the administration changes, the discussions surrounding policies faded into the background as they celebrated family reunions.

A caseworker from Catholic Charities, one of the two resettlement agencies in Louisville, was there to assist her. They would provide support through cultural orientation, health check-ups, job training, and eventually enrolling her daughter in school. She would be informed about transportation routes and health insurance. Her husband already secured a job and has arranged housing for them.

For the moment, Sadiki felt relief that he didn’t have to make an agonizing decision: to endure more years apart from his wife and child or to return to the refugee camp where he had spent most of his life.

After taking pictures together, the duo walked arm in arm with their child, who happily munched on potato chips, smiling as they headed to the escalator to collect her bags and embark on their new life together.