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In Western Mass., Confusion And Frustration As Refugee Arrivals On Hold

Congolese refugee Guylain, left, is greeted by his Catholic Charities caseworker, Jowel Iranzi, on April 5, 2017 at Bradley Airport. Guylain and his brother resettled in Northampton, Mass
Sarah Crosby
/
Daily Hampshire Gazette / gazettenet.com
Congolese refugee Guylain, 23, left, is greeted by his Catholic Charities caseworker Jowel Iranzi April 5, 2017 at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., where Guylain and his brother Oliver, 26, arrived.

We're beginning to see the effect of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision upholding much of President Donald Trump's executive order restricting immigration and refugees. The U.S. has now hit the Trump-imposed annual cap of 50,000 refugees. There are exceptions carved out by the Supreme Court, but details remain in flux.

This has led to confusion and frustration locally among refugee resettlement agencies and residents who volunteered to assist them. Kathryn Buckley-Brawner of Catholic Charities in Springfield tells us this uncertainty extends to a group of refugees that had been scheduled to arrive in Northampton.

Kari Njiiri is a senior reporter and longtime host and producer of "Jazz Safari," a musical journey through the jazz world and beyond, broadcast Saturday nights on NEPM Radio. He's also the local host of NPR’s "All Things Considered."
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