Utah refugee resettlement program finds self-sufficiency amid federal funding cuts

It takes Aden Batar, the director of migration and refugee services at Catholic Community Services, at least a couple of minutes just to list all of the ways the refugee resettlement program he runs assists refugees coming to Utah. The program’s goal has always been clear — to allow refugees to reach self-sufficiency amid extraordinary circumstances.

The initiative has been alive for more than 45 years in the state, but after the Trump administration took charge this year, it was left without its most substantial funding source, federal funding — at least temporarily.

The organization announced on Monday it will continue operating with the help of private donations amounting to more than $1.5 million. That’s more than half of what the federal government funded before President Donald Trump signed an order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and freezing resettlement funding. 

Utahns moved fast after Catholic Community Services announced in early April it was winding down its refugee resettlement program, which annually assists about 600 families in securing housing, jobs, school enrollment, health care, and provides mentorship to teach American laws, English, and other immigration resources.

“The families were coming from all over the world in every war that happened in the world, like, for example, the most recent war in Ukraine, Afghanistan, in Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Congo, many parts of the world,” Batar said.

If the organization is able to raise $1 million more, it would allow them to transition to a smaller, self-sustaining program to keep on working on the mission for the next four years, Batar said.

“We’re going to continue to support the families that we have that have come the last two years, and we’re going to continue to support the families by providing the necessary services that they need,” Batar said. “We want them to keep their housing. We want them to have a job so they can pay their bills.”

The work of his office starts after the Department of Homeland Security grants entry to migrants fleeing conflict, providing the essentials, like a furnished home in anticipation of their arrival and food and later giving them tools to thrive in the country. 

“While the program will operate at a reduced capacity, its core services—and the impact on the lives of those we serve—remain as vital as ever,” the organization wrote in a blog post. “This transformation ensures we can uphold our mission while adapting to a changing national landscape.”

Even with the abrupt freeze in funding, the organization hasn’t turned anyone away. However, the program still took a big hit and had to lay off 50% of its staff. 

It’s still uncertain whether the Trump administration will resume the admissions of refugees, with the executive order issued on Jan. 20 stating that it “suspends the (U.S. Refugee Admissions Program) until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.”

Within 90 days of the order, however, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State are required to submit a report to the president advising on whether to bring back the refugee admissions program.

But, that deadline already passed on April 20, and Catholic Community Services can’t wait for the funding to come back to keep its doors open, Batar said.

There are roughly 70,000 refugees in Utah and the majority of them went through this program, he added. 

“They are all productive members of our society. They successfully integrated into our community. They have jobs, they have businesses, they’re doing really well. So the program is a life-saving program, and we would like this program to continue,” he said. “We are appealing to our administration to open this program again, and so we could serve as many refugees as we can.”

The organization is also asking the community to help raise the funds to continue the critical services that have helped thousands of refugees settle in the state for decades, Batar said, and to Trump to look at the issue from a compassionate point of view, and to allow the admission of new refugees in the country.

“We are here to help them. Our community wants to help them,” he said. “But the administration has to allow the refugees to come.”