U.S.-Mexico Border Closed to Asylum Seekers, but Why Is the Refugee Resettlement Also Halted?
1,660 Afghans, who worked alongside U.S. military forces and unaccompanied minors, have had their flights to the United States canceled.
Never mind the U.S. - Mexico Border, the Trump administration’s abrupt decision to suspend the U.S. refugee resettlement program has left thousands canceling travel plans for individuals who had already been thoroughly vetted and approved for resettlement. This policy change effectively pulled the rug out from under refugees who believed they were finally on the path to safety, offering them little more than a bureaucratic shrug and a “better luck in the next presidential term.” or hopefully by the mid-term elections.1
Overall, an estimated 10,000 refugees have seen their resettlement plans evaporate, left to wonder whether the promises of safety and security were just elaborate window dressing.
The situation is particularly dire for Afghan refugees, including over 1,660 individuals who worked alongside U.S. military forces and unaccompanied minors. These individuals underwent rigorous vetting and were assured safety, only to find themselves stranded and vulnerable to Taliban retribution.
The sudden reversal serves as a stark reminder that even after risking their lives for U.S. interests, promises of protection are, at best, written in classic American disappearing ink.Adding insult to injury, the suspension has shattered the hopes of families already residing in the U.S. who were eagerly awaiting reunification with loved ones. Despite having cleared every possible hurdle in the vetting process, refugees now face indefinite delays, as if the administration has mistaken due diligence for a big “oh well”
How does this policy make America Great Again? Will housing now be cheaper? Will Americans have better access to cheaper eggs now?
Possible Solutions
At any rate, having worked with Afghan refugees—particularly one grueling Afghan resettlement case that felt more like unraveling my second marriage—there is, in fact, a workaround.
In this weekend’s podcast; which I will also update here. I will discuss possible solutions and pathways for refugees stranded by U.S. policy changes, including legal challenges, humanitarian exemptions like parole, family reunification programs, and advocacy efforts through organizations and Congress.
I will also explore how third-country resettlement options and media attention can offer solutions, especially for high-risk groups like Afghan refugees, and examine the role of international bodies in providing temporary protections. John Stewart would be excellent in playing an advocacy role in this and we are in talks with him in this matter [we are not in talks with John Stewart in this matter.]
Also in this weekend’s podcast, I will address how to approach these Raids coming to a town near you. I am speaking partly in jest, as reports indicate that these raids may be limited to which cities cooperate with ICE.
What’s going on with the Boston Raids?
So, all media reports indicate that the recent ICE raids in Boston were targeted operations focusing on individuals with serious criminal histories. Those apprehended included a Haitian gang member with 17 criminal convictions - yes, the guy all over Tik-Tok [pronounced “tik-tak”] praising Obama and Biden -as well as individuals convicted of violent crimes such as sexual exploitation of minors and aggravated domestic assault. These raids are part of a broader strategy by ICE to prioritize the removal of individuals deemed significant threats to public safety.
So far so good. It looks like the raids are optics to appease the “Make America White Again” crowd while preserving the very real reliance the U.S. has on Migrant workers.
But then this:
But I digress, indeed, Migrant workers make up over 70% of hired farmworkers in the U.S., according to the USDA. Some, including Mary Jo Dudley, the director of the Cornell Farmworker Program, cited in Jennifer Bamberg article from Agriculture.com estimate:
“If we lost half of the farmworker population in a short period of time, the agriculture sector would likely collapse,” Mary Jo Dudley, the director of the Cornell Farmworker Program, told Investigate Midwest. “There are no available skilled workers to replace the current workforce should this policy be put into place.”2
Soylent Green is people, and Soylent Green is People…
Or the one after: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/23/trump-third-term-amendment-constitution-ogles.html