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Resettlement Groups Respond To Latest Trump Admin Decisions On Refugees

A family from Bhutan greets newly resettled family members at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in November 2016.
Ryan Caron King
/
Connecticut Public Radio
A family from Bhutan greets newly resettled family members at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in November 2016.

An official with an organization that resettles refugees in New England said a recent cut in the number allowed to enter the country is misguided.

Between 2016 and 2018, the number of refugees resettled in Massachusetts and New Hampshire by Ascentria Care Alliance dropped from about 1,000 to roughly 230.

That's coincided with cuts by the Trump Administration in the number allowed to come in to the U.S. In late September, the president cut the number again — almost in half — to 18,000.

Tim Johnstone, chief operations officer of Ascentria, said he think it's a misguided number.

"We have found that refugees make incredible citizens and employees," he said.

Johnstone said that in Massachusetts, Ascentria used to settle refugees in Worcester and West Springfield, but now only settles them in West Springfield due to the lower numbers arriving.

President Trump also issued an executive order requiring the consent of states and communities before refugees can be resettled there.

Kathryn Buckley-Brawner, the executive director of Catholic Charities in Springfield, said it could have a serious impact.

"It could mean the difference between having a presence in a state and not," she said. "Or in having a very sketchy presence throughout a state."

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has indicated support for welcoming more refugees.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno was noncommittal, while Mayor Will Reichelt of West Springfield said he'd need more state and federal aid. Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz said his city will continue to welcome refugees.

Buckley-Brawner said it can be difficult for smaller municipalities to absorb large numbers of refugees.

But that's less likely to be a problem, she said, given that President Trump has significantly cut how many can be admitted into the country.

Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.
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