Refugees, Florida sponsors feel stuck after the resettlement programs have been set

Miami – refugees had arrived at the United States at level in the United States for almost three decades, supported by non -profit organizations and ordinary people throughout the political spectrum.

More than 160,000 Americans in each state registered the Welcome Corps, a public-private efforts two years ago. More than 800,000 newcomers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ukraine and Afghanistan were welcomed by a legal instrument called Humanitrian parole with the help of financial followers.

After the inauguration of President Donald Trump and the immediate 90-day suspension of the US refugee registration, this screamed through his government-a step, which defeated thousands of reviewed refugees, and the sponsors of the tapping programs that they felt , left restlessly enriched her own life.

Breus is among those who are scared. The crisis consultant works from a pastel peach house in Südflorida and supported the resettlement of more than 30 people from Haiti, Ukraine and Cuba. She wanted to show them how to “thrive”, she said, instead of “being in survival all the time”.

“It also left us in the floating because we did not answer some of the questions that our Sponsees have,” said Breus. “We cannot give you the encouragement that we usually do, or hope.”

New approaches

New sponsorship paths have increased the relocation of the US resettles in recent years.

Humanitarian probation has been applied to migrants for seven decades who could not use standard routes. The Biden administration expanded it for Ukrainians and with another program called CHNV, which allows up to 30,000 monthly participants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Migrants had to carry out security checks and have financial providers in the USA. It was intended to dissuade illegal border crossings by providing two -year work permits, although they were not a way to citizenship.

The Foreign Ministry allowed private sponsors to facilitate the transition of refugees from the Welcome Corps from January 2023. Groups of five or more sponsors had to secure at least $ 2,425 per refugee and commit to planning transport, housing construction, education and employment. You could agree with pre -approved applicants or name a specific refugee.

“Private sponsorship means that we do not ask a government or taxpayer to finance this,” said Ed Shapiro, a leading welcome corps radio, in an e -mail. “We say:” Let us do this for our citizens, religious organizations, companies and universities who want this (or in some cases have to do so). “

More than 9,000 sponsors have welcomed over 4,500 refugees since the program's first arrival in June 2023. Welcome the non -profit platform. Private philanthropes and gofundme.org have set up a fund to overcome financial obstacles.

The idea was that Sponsor districts could support immediate social capital and assimilation more sensibly than the employees of government proceedings.

“It was an initiative that was really energized in my opinion,” said Marissa Tirona, President of Grantmakers, who dealt with immigrants and refugees. “(For) everyday people, neighbors and communities to establish more inviting places in the USA.”

The supporters presented sponsoring as an intimate service, which enabled normal people to supplement the work of the resettlement agencies and to take on an active role in the redesign of their communities.

However, according to the Department of Homeland Security, its predecessors abused humanitarian probation. When asked about Welcome Corps, a spokesman for the US State Department said that Foreign Minister Marco Rubio ensured that all foreign aid programs were “efficient and consistent” with the “America First”.

“Every dollar we spend, every program we finance, and every guideline we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: makes America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does America make it more successful? “Said Rubio in a statement.

A “springboard” in Miami

Breus is always busy helping.

If she does not meet patients in the afternoon or scholarship applications for the non -profit organization, which Erule Paul Foundation, where she operates operations, excludes, Breus said that she would like to have newcomers on trips in Miami with a shopping center with a shopping center with a shopping center takes. Your mother helps. According to Breus, they took the opportunity to be a “springboard”.

She said ten Foundation employees had formed a “sponsor Circle” and created an online profile that could search potential migrants. They indicated how many people they could sponsor and what resources they could offer. Together, the sponsors help with transport, interpretation, applications and school registration.

“Only the basics to get them off their feet,” said Breus.

Experience was worth enough that Breus welcomed. She visited webinars so that she can best advise her “Sponsees”, some of which examine some movements to other countries.

Among them is Flor, who studied psychology in Haiti and works part -time as an overnight cake as he attended English -language courses. Flor asked to be identified only by her nickname because she fears the deportation.

Flor had hoped that her 5-year-old daughter, still in Haiti, could help her with Breus' help.

“This week I don't even have the courage with the news when I talk to her to look at her because I have the feeling that I fail,” she said on January 23 through a Creole interpreter.

From Utah to Pennsylvania sponsors sponsors scramble

After sponsors desperately tried to accelerate applications, they are now sitting with growing uncertainty.

Some participants are provoked by the urgency of the circumstances of their refugees and are committed to the legislature to maintain initiatives that say they have a broad appeal and prays that they have the unexplained “case-by-case” base fulfill on which the arrivals are now approved.

Clydie Wakefield, 72, flew to DC this month. The retired teacher, who described herself as a “conservative tendency but open”, began sponsoring an Afghan family after taught her sister in English. She thought that the offices of her representatives could help to receive an exception for women and siblings.

Wakefield said she was not a “Mover and Shaker”. She just wanted to follow the appointment of her Mormon faith “to comfort those who need comfort”. She had spent the holiday season to find apartments and take final precautions. Bed linen and other necessities bought by their parish are in a storage unit.

The family might have been flying for a month when Wakefield said that the executive order had hit.

“It was really discouraging. But she just hopes, ”said Wakefield. “And I am inspired by her. I will continue to hope. “

The 78 -year -old Chuck Pugh said that he had the “increasing pressure”, the parents of an Afghan arrival, three sisters and two brothers from Pakistan to the area of ​​Philadelphia.

Pugh, a political independent, said that he collected a cross -party welcome corps group last July, including a Trump supporter. The family was subjected to an hour-long interview in the US message in Islamabad and reported for medical checks in November. He collected the entire money that is necessary to cover the expenditure after the Arrival for the family.

They doubled their efforts in January because he felt that he was “so close”. Pugh said he couldn't afford to give up – although he expects the family to get stuck in the near future.

“If we can be at the airport to welcome this family, that would really be one of the greatest days of my life,” said Pugh.

By James Pollard, Associated Press