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Miami Herald
20-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Houston YMCA Cutting Staff After Trump Funding Blow
The YMCA of Greater Houston announced last week it will cut 2.7 percent of its workforce across 160 locations in Texas due to federal funding cuts, The Houston Chronicle reported Friday. This comes as Harris County's Alief Family YMCA, which primarily served refugees through its New American Initiative, will close on May 30 following President Donald Trump administration's cuts to refugee program funding. Newsweek has reached out to the White House and Alief Family YMCA via email on Sunday for comment. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by billionaire Elon Musk, has drawn praise and consternation for cutting federal budgets and monies since Trump took office again in January. As of April 16, DOGE estimates it has saved approximately $155 billion for the nation, combining different components including asset sales, contract/lease cancellations and renegotiations, fraud and improper payment deletion, grant cancellations, interest savings, programmatic changes, regulatory savings, and workforce reductions. Trump, meanwhile, signed an executive order hours after taking office that halted the nation's Refugee Admission Program. The order, titled "Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)," went into effect on January 27, suspending the program for 90 days. The suspension allows U.S. officials to determine "whether resumption of entry of refugees into the United States under the USRAP would be in the interests of the United States." The Houston Chronicle reported that due to Trump's executive order Houston-area organizations that support refugees, like the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, cut 120 workers in February. According to local reports, the YMCA has been an important and beloved community resource, particularly for refugee services and youth programs in Houston that rely on federal grants. This reduction in services comes at a time when many refugee communities in Texas are already facing increased uncertainty about their status and support systems. Houston has historically been one of the nation's largest refugee resettlement areas, with a robust support services infrastructure that is now facing significant restructuring. The Alief area is particularly affected as it has been home to diverse immigrant communities for decades. The YMCA facility there has provided essential services including language classes, employment assistance, youth programs, and health initiatives tailored to refugee and immigrant populations. According to The Houston Chronicle, the YMCA of Greater Houston didn't say which positions would be cut, which locations would be affected or reveal the size of its staff across the Houston area. President Donald Trump's "Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)" executive order reads: "The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees." The YMCA stated in an email to The Houston Chronicle: "We recognize the impact this has on our employees and understand the challenges this may bring. While we are making adjustments, we remain committed to continuing our services and supporting the community at all our locations." Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, whose precinct covers the Alief area, released a statement following the announcement: "The Alief Family YMCA has been a cornerstone for families, youth, and seniors-providing not just programs but a true sense of community." She added: "Its closure is a painful reminder of how federal funding decisions can affect local lives. In Precinct 4, we've been proud to partner with the YMCA to provide a safe, engaging, and enriching environment for children and families. We remain committed to our shared vision of supporting youth development, education, and the overall well-being of the Alief community." Linda Reyna, a spin instructor at Langham Creek Family YMCA in northwest Houston, said, per The Houston Chronicle: "For certain programs, they get federal grants, and that's very important for the kids in the community. That's gonna be a big, big blow to different age groups." The 90-day suspension of the Refugee Admission Program is set to expire later this month. Refugee advocacy organizations are watching closely to see whether the administration will extend the suspension or implement permanent changes to the program. The YMCA of Greater Houston is reportedly developing transition plans to ensure continuity of essential services where possible. Community leaders and local government officials are exploring alternative funding sources and partnerships to potentially preserve some programs currently offered at the Alief location. 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Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal court temporarily blocks Trump admin plan to suspend refugee resettlement program
A federal court on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from suspending a refugee resettlement program. The ruling came during a court hearing over a lawsuit brought by a group of nonprofits that receive federal funds under a congressional law. The nonprofits provide a range of social services for newly-arrived refugees in the U.S. On Monday, a judge in Seattle issued an injunction ordering the Trump administration to reinstate its contracts with refugee agencies. Tuesday's ruling came from the three-judge panel Ninth Circuit court, which directs the administration to continue to process applications that started the process prior to Jan. 20. Who Is James Boasberg, The Us Judge At The Center Of Trump's Deportation Efforts? "The motion is denied to the extent the district court's preliminary injunction order applies to individuals who were conditionally approved for refugee status by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services before January 20, 2025," the order states. "Executive Order No. 14163 does not purport to revoke the refugee status of individuals who received that status under the United States Refugee Admissions Program prior to January 20, 2025. In all other respects, the district court's February 28, 2025, preliminary injunction order is stayed." On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending refugee resettlement and ordering the Department of Homeland Security to report back in 90 days on whether resuming resettlement would be in the interests of the U.S. Read On The Fox News App 'Woefully Insufficient': Us Judge Reams Trump Admin For Days-late Deportation Info "The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees," Trump said in his Jan. 20 order. The case had been brought by refugee groups, including International Refugee Assistance Project, HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and individual refugees. The groups argued their ability to provide services to refugees had been damaged by the Trump order. The order was one of several attempting to limit both illegal and legal immigration, including the use of parole to allow in migrants by the Biden administration. Trump limited refugee resettlement in his first term, but President Joe Biden made moves to take in more refugees, including by increasing the refugee article source: Federal court temporarily blocks Trump admin plan to suspend refugee resettlement program
Fox News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Federal court temporarily blocks Trump admin plan to suspend refugee resettlement program
A federal court on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from suspending a refugee resettlement program. The ruling came during a court hearing over a lawsuit brought by a group of nonprofits that receive federal funds under a congressional law. The nonprofits provide a range of social services for newly-arrived refugees in the U.S. On Monday, a judge in Seattle issued an injunction ordering the Trump administration to reinstate its contracts with refugee agencies. Tuesday's ruling came from the three-judge panel Ninth Circuit court, which directs the administration to continue to process applications that started the process prior to Jan. 20. "The motion is denied to the extent the district court's preliminary injunction order applies to individuals who were conditionally approved for refugee status by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services before January 20, 2025," the order states. "Executive Order No. 14163 does not purport to revoke the refugee status of individuals who received that status under the United States Refugee Admissions Program prior to January 20, 2025. In all other respects, the district court's February 28, 2025, preliminary injunction order is stayed." On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending refugee resettlement and ordering the Department of Homeland Security to report back in 90 days on whether resuming resettlement would be in the interests of the U.S. "The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees," Trump said in his Jan. 20 order. The case had been brought by refugee groups, including International Refugee Assistance Project, HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and individual refugees. The groups argued their ability to provide services to refugees had been damaged by the Trump order. The order was one of several attempting to limit both illegal and legal immigration, including the use of parole to allow in migrants by the Biden administration. Trump limited refugee resettlement in his first term, but President Joe Biden made moves to take in more refugees, including by increasing the refugee cap.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nearly 400 Nashville nonprofits risk losing $1.5 billion in federal funding. What to know
A refugee resettlement program for migrants fleeing their countries amid fears of persecution and death. Food distribution programs that provide community members with hot meals. Counseling to help Tennesseans navigate the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplace. All three programs have two things in common. They're facilitated by Nashville-based nonprofits, and they've already been severely impacted — and could even be eliminated entirely — as a result of federal funding freezes by the Trump administration. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell recently flagged a dire risk of lost government funding for not only those but hundreds more local nonprofits. O'Connell told reporters in late February that 396 Davidson County nonprofits are at risk of losing $1.5 billion in federal funds. Those numbers come from an Urban Institute study assessing the financial risk to nonprofits across the nation if they were to lose their government grants. The study uses data from IRS forms nonprofits filed in 2021 that include how much revenue a nonprofit receives in state and federal government grants. While those numbers may be dated, the stakes for nonprofits are no less pronounced today. Hal Cato, the CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, said plenty of nonprofits were already struggling before what's now become a common thread of 'excruciating' uncertainty. 'You could liquidate the assets of every major foundation in the city, and it would not plug that hole,' Cato said of the $1.5 billion gap from the Urban Institute study. 'Philanthropy was never meant to be a substitute for the federal government taking care of its most vulnerable citizens, and I'm just worried if the fed abandons that responsibility and foundations literally don't have the capacity to step in, what is going to happen to our society?' The Tennessean spoke with several local nonprofits about what they stand to lose, just over 60 days into President Donald Trump's second term. On his first day, Trump signed an executive order 'realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.' The order abruptly suspended federal funding for resettlement services and halted new entries into the country for at least 90 days, and it's already hit Nashville agencies who support refugee families hard. Catholic Charities is included in that group. About 2,300 refugees were designated for resettlement in Tennessee during the current federal fiscal year that began in October, and Catholic Charities was already supporting nearly 400 of them before the executive order. Rick Musacchio, a spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Nashville, said the nonprofit has lost about $500,000 worth of funds, between funding it's already expended and not been reimbursed for and ongoing expenses for new Middle Tennessee refugees. 'We've been able to raise about $260,000 of that from donors, but that kind of a blow just greatly diminishes assistance to people who truly need assistance — people who were promised support as part of the resettlement process,' Musacchio said. That's not the only way Catholic Charities has been affected. Musacchio said there's also been a 'significant number' of staff layoffs. And recent sweeping cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture resulted in the closure of programs funding fresh food for schools and food banks, the latter of which Catholic Charities partners with for its food distribution services. Musacchio said Catholic Charities is still evaluating whether federal cuts will affect even more services, from its job training program to the broader range of supports offered at its family resource centers throughout Middle Tennessee. 'The reality is that the funding instability and the funding loss, ultimately, stands to impact nearly all of the 26,000 people we typically serve over the course of a year, in one way or another,' Musacchio said. About 85% of funding for the Nashville-based Family & Children's Service comes from federal dollars, according to President and CEO Michael McSurdy. On top of offering counseling and crisis services, one of the nonprofit's flagship programs is its health care access service, which allows Tennesseans to seek advice about health care options available on the Affordable Care Act marketplace or through Medicaid regardless of their income. That navigator program is another victim of federal cuts. In February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a nearly 90% cut to program funding, from $98 million to $10 million. McSurdy said that leaves his agency staring down a loss of around 40 employees spread across the state in August. The program was also cut during the last Trump administration, but much more gradually. This time, the cuts have been almost immediate — and McSurdy argues that they could be based on erroneous data. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released data on navigator funding and health plan enrollment, and it appears the data for Family & Children's Service was copied from the agency listed before it on the spreadsheet. McSurdy said the nonprofit actually enrolled about 3,700 more consumers in a marketplace health plan and nearly 30,000 more people in Medicaid than the spreadsheet states. 'We don't know what they're going to do with that,' McSurdy said. 'We believe in that work. We see that program as connecting people to health care, which means they're more able to be engaged in their communities and their jobs as parents — there's a lot of reasons why that remains important.' Cato, with the Community Foundation, said he's been hearing from nonprofits hoping to connect with donors or access emergency funding on a weekly basis. The nonprofit sector was already suffering from a morale and burnout issue before this year, Cato said, and the federal cuts have been 'just another boot on the neck.' Cato said he anticipates the issue getting even worse before it gets better, as stock market conditions will likely mean foundations end up with even less to distribute over the next several years. But at the same time, Cato said, this could present an opportunity for local nonprofits to forge stronger, better collaborations moving forward. 'If you were to take the nonprofit sector out of Nashville, Nashville goes from being a community to just a city,' Cato said. 'I think there's a realization that the sector is really important to quality of life and being a good place to live.' This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: DOGE, Trump admin cuts threaten 396 Nashville orgs, federal funds
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Iraqi refugee living in Texas pleads guilty to conspiring to support ISIS
A former Iraqi refugee pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State group, according to the Justice Department. Abdulrahman Mohammed Hafedh Alqaysi, 28, pleaded guilty to creating and developing logos for ISIS' media wing, known as the Kalachnikov team, and sending hacking videos and instructions to ISIS members between 2015 and 2020, the Justice Department announced Friday. He also pleaded guilty to providing stolen credit card information and creating fraudulent identity documents for the designated terrorist group. Alqaysi, currently a legal permanent resident in Richmond, Texas, will remain in custody until his June 5 sentencing. He faces up to 20 years behind bars and up to $250,000 in fines. Jd Vance Clashes With Cbs Anchor Over Unvetted Refugees: 'I Don't Want That Person In My Country' The guilty plea comes after the Trump administration has moved to crack down on the vetting of refugees. For example, President Donald Trump signed executive orders in January suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and ramping up vetting of refugees "to the maximum degree possible," particularly those "from regions or nations with identified security risks." Read On The Fox News App One of the orders, known as the Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program, instructs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to admit refugees to the U.S. on a "case by case basis" if the alien does not pose a national security threat to the U.S. Additionally, Vice President JD Vance voiced concerns about the vetting process for refugees in January, and said in an interview with CBS anchor Margaret Brennan that the U.S. shouldn't "unleash thousands of unvetted people into our country." Specifically, Vance pointed to an Afghan national arrested in October 2024 on charges of conspiring to conduct a terrorist attack on Election Day on behalf of ISIS, according to the Justice Department. New Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Pauses Refugee Operations, Ramps Up Visa Vetting "I don't agree that all these immigrants, or all these refugees have been properly vetted," Vance told Brennan. "In fact, we know that there are cases of people who allegedly were properly vetted and then were literally planning terrorist attacks in our country. That happened during the campaign, if you may remember. So, clearly, not all of these foreign nationals have been properly vetted." A spokesperson for Vance did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about Alqaysi's guilty plea. Fox News' Julia Johnson and Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. Original article source: Former Iraqi refugee living in Texas pleads guilty to conspiring to support ISIS
