Latest news with #EdwinPerez
New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
The Last Refugees Let Into the U.S. Wonder if Their New Country Wants Them
The January wind stung Luismar Liendo and Edwin Perez the moment they stepped from the plane into Eau Claire, Wis. They had landed in a place colder than they had ever known, a biting contrast to the swelter of their native Venezuela. The married couple, political dissidents, had been granted refugee status by the United States, and pictured this new land as a welcoming haven. But soon after Mr. Perez, 27, and Ms. Liendo, 31, arrived, the door to which they had entered America slammed shut. They were among the last refugees to arrive in Wisconsin and indeed in all of America. President Donald Trump, on his first day in office, suspended the Refugee Admissions Program, which admits those facing persecution abroad. Then Mr. Trump made another move, cutting off federal funds for nonprofit groups helping refugees — money that went to rent, food and other essentials. World Relief, the evangelical Christian group assisting Mr. Perez and Ms. Liendo, had expected each refugee to receive federal support of $1,325 for the first 90 days. Now, there was nothing. 'We were afraid,' Mr. Perez said. 'It was a difficult moment, for sure.' These refugees arrived in the United States with legal status after careful vetting. But they are caught in a moment in American history when the welcome mat for immigrants, legal or not, is threadbare. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
West Springfield rideout honors man who died in I-91 motorcycle accident
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Family and friends came together in West Springfield for a motorcycle rideout remembering a young man who died in a motorcycle accident in 2023. Edwin Perez, Jr., passed away in 2023 in a motorcycle crash on I-91 northbound in West Springfield, an area that has seen many accidents over the years. Members of the community gathered at Riverdale Street Saturday afternoon to honor the life of Edwin at his memorial site and to raise awareness for safe highway driving. PHOTOS: Vehicle crashed into house on Tiffany Street in Springfield 'We lost our son at an early age, it's not supposed to happen like this,' said Edwin Perez, Edwin's father. 'We're trying to just make sure his legacy lives on and everybody knows his name, and awareness for everybody else that lost a life.' Motorcyclists then rode from the memorial to Rivers Park in Chicopee to host a lantern release and candle lighting. This year marks the third honorary rideout held in Edwin's honor. Edwin's family says they hope to see changes on the highway in the future due to the number of deadly crashes that have occurred. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
