National security, military partnerships, and the importance of a reliable refugee resettlement program for Kentucky—and the Country.
Kentucky’s refugee program—alongside the broader U.S. Refugee Admissions Program—remains suspended.
The Bluegrass State’s resettlement infrastructure is crumbling under federal funding cuts. In 2023, Kentucky ranked 4th in the nation in per-capita refugee arrivals. Now, agencies like Kentucky Refugee Ministries report “no new arrivals since before January 20th.” With federal funding frozen, Kentucky’s social workers have been left “heartbroken and dismayed”—abandoned by the government they pledged to serve.
Kentucky’s eight resettlement offices are at risk. The Catholic Charities Diocese of Owensboro and Catholic Charities Louisville are withdrawing from the U.S. Refugee Program. Kentucky Refugee Ministries, which serves Louisville, Lexington and Covington, is debating closure and severe cutbacks. The other three agencies— the Western Kentucky Refugee Mutual Assistance Society, the International Rescue Committee Louisville, and the International Center Kentucky Owensboro—have already laid off staff.
These cuts threaten a model immigration program that works for Kentucky: Refugee contributions to Kentucky’s economy—hundreds of millions in spending power alone—are placed in jeopardy. Without a functioning Refugee Program, the sacred promises between Kentucky’s military communities and the allies who served alongside cannot be fulfilled. Instead, America will have no choice but to abandon our military allies.
Without a statutory minimum for refugee admissions, resettlement in Kentucky faces an uncertain and opaque future.
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