Trump’s executive order leaves Wilmington refugee resettlement agency in crisis

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — President Donald Trump continues to push for the deportation of millions undocumented immigrants across the country as part of his campaign promise to crackdown on immigration—but his executive actions are also having major impacts on refugees coming to the United States legally. 

The future of asylum seekers remains in jeopardy after the president indefinitely suspended the country’s refugee admission program. 

This decision has also left organizations like Church World Service without federal funding. 

As a result, the Wilmington branch was forced to furlough 20 of its 25 employees this week. 

CWS Wilmington provides services to refugees who are granted legal asylum in the US, helping them find housing, work, and a five-year path to citizenship.  

Office Director Wes Magruder said the people they serve have fled war, famine, or persecution in their home country.  

“Many of them have been in refugee camps for many many years. Just a few weeks ago we resettled a family that had been in a refugee camp for 18 years,” he said. “We helped resettle Afghans who assisted the US military during our occupation there.”  

Magruder added that with the agency unable to accept new clients in the foreseeable future, remaining staff will focus on fulfilling commitments made by the federal government to refugees currently in the US. 

As for asylum seekers waiting to enter the country, the outlook is grim. 

“We had a young man that we resettled about 6 months ago. He was fully expecting his mother and brother to join him actually later this month, but their travel has been cancelled,” Magruder explained. 

Magruder also worries that migrants living here under protected status—which differs from refugee status—could see their protections revoked, potentially leaving them undocumented and vulnerable to deportation.  

Though, that’s not his only worry. 

“What I worry about is refugees who are here not feeling welcome in the country that originally accepted them and took them in. I’m worried that they may look around as say ‘we’re not really wanted here. We’re not really welcome,” Magruder said. 

To learn more about CWS, you can visit their website.