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North Jersey illegal alien aid group lays off 79 after Trump cuts $9 million annual US AID funds

by
February 23, 2025
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JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A refugee assistance organization in North Jersey laid off 79 employees this week after the Trump administration abruptly froze U.S. foreign assistance funding, cutting off critical support for refugee resettlement programs.

According to federal records, the group received $9 million in US AID funding last year.

The layoffs come in response to an executive order issued earlier this week that suspended refugee admissions indefinitely. The funding freeze has directly impacted the organization’s ability to provide services to refugees, including housing, employment assistance, and legal aid.

Church World Service (CWS), one of ten national agencies that partner with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, warned that the funding halt would have immediate and severe consequences for millions of displaced people worldwide.

“Today, millions of vulnerable people who our nation has pledged to stand beside have been left in danger,” said Rick Santos, President and CEO of CWS. “This abrupt action is an abdication of our values of compassion and an abandonment of our nation’s proud history of being the global leader in humanitarian assistance.”

The layoffs in Jersey City reflect a broader impact nationwide, as refugee resettlement organizations struggle to cope with the loss of federal support. Advocates warn that the freeze could significantly weaken the country’s capacity to welcome refugees in the future.

Erol Kekic, Senior Vice President of Programs at CWS, said the administration’s decision harms communities that have relied on U.S. aid, including Afghans and Ukrainians who were promised protection. “This administration is turning its back, not only on our proud history, but on many of the families that they now call allies,” Kekic said.

The Trump administration has not provided a timeline for when, or if, the funding may be restored.

The funding freeze has left refugee assistance organizations scrambling, with job losses mounting and services for vulnerable communities in jeopardy.

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