Charlie: "I was left stranded without a job and without money after going to the United States, and we were sure that the approval would come through. The main issue is that I was just days away from traveling; my flight was scheduled for the first week of February. I sold all my belongings and lost my job, and now things are very tough here in Colombia, and I still don't have a steady job."

US Embassy Yemen Staff: "I am one of the hundreds of employees affiliated with the U.S. Embassy in Yemen. Despite the legitimacy of our work, we faced arrest campaigns and many colleagues are still imprisoned by the Houthi group. Those of us who escaped to a third country seek asylum and resettlement but we are unaware of our fate. We sold everything and have no income. Most of us fled to Egypt where the resettlement process is on hold. We ask when our case will be considered… All we hope is that our voice reaches those concerned so they can complete our resettlement process."

Angelique: “We are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are staying in South Africa. I'm writing this on behalf of my mother, who is the head of [our family's] case. We are family of eight. We did our interview in 2021, and we were approved for resettlement. In 2023, we did our first medical screen, and everyone was healthy. None of us had health issues, and we had done a cultural orientation but were delayed. [Our travel] got expired then we repeat. We did our medical screening three times. Then, early last year on December 4, 2024, IOM called us and told us about our traveling plans and were waiting for scheduling date to travel. Unfortunately, we sold some of our belongings for preparation. We hope that the ban is lifted so we can travel soon thank you. God bless you all."

An Afghan woman in Islamabad: “I am an Afghan woman and refugee currently living in Islamabad, Pakistan with my family. We were sponsored through the Welcome Corps program and had flights arranged to the United States in January 2025. Unfortunately, due to the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, our flights were cancelled, leaving us in a very difficult position. Since then, we have faced immense challenges. To prepare for our relocation, we sold most of our household items, and my children had to leave school. Now, we live in constant fear of deportation back to Afghanistan, where our safety is at grave risk. Pakistan has begun deporting Afghan refugees, and our Proof of Registration (PoR) cards expired on June 30, 2025. Without valid documents or any protective letter from the embassy, we cannot safely go outside due to concerns about encounters with police. Our greatest worry is that we are not safe here or in my country, Afghanistan. I kindly and respectfully request assistance from the U.S. government to help us resume our resettlement process and provide the support we so desperately need. Thank you for considering our story."

Patrick: “I am a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. My family and I have lived in Uganda for over 18 years. We began the process in 2021, and [our] property was sold in the promise of departure soon to the United States, which did not happen. Things are totally bad. The U.S. government should consider at least the long promised households [safety]."

Trigger Warning: This testimony includes reference of domestic violence.

Daphine: “I am a female refugee currently living in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement in Uganda. We are a family of four people—me, my mother, my young sister and my younger brother. We have lived in the settlement for over 20 years, experiencing domestic violence, since from our country of origin and even in the country where we fled for rescue. Things did turn out well due to domestic violence from our father.

We were blessed to be resettled to the United States for the safety of our lives, most especially my mother. It's unfortunate things didn't go as we expected because we were affected by the [travel] ban. It's now almost been a year. We had prepared for travel and dropped out of school. Currently, life is too hard. We always hide away because people in the community laugh at us. My mother and brother are always tense due to fear of being killed. I am the elder child in the house, but I have lacked to find possible solutions. I always go to people's gardens to dig for them so as to get something to feed on my family, but the little I get can't pay our school bills.

I am requesting for help, for the safety of my mother, my young brother and also to be in a better place where I can work and pay school fees for myself and my young ones. In addition to this, a place where my mother and my young brother can get better medication because my brother is mentally not okay, and my mother too has been suffering with illness since 2009. I am requesting for help so as I get a better future for myself, my mother and my young ones because I have been suffering since childhood up to date. Christian greetings to all who will read this."

Trigger Warning: This testimony includes reference of violence.

Libertad: “In 2016, my husband was murdered by gang members in El Salvador. For the safety of my daughter, who was less than two years old, our family—including my parents and two adult brothers—were forced to leave our home. To this day, we remain internally displaced. With terror, I reported the incident, but the case was never investigated, and it is now known that it is due to corruption. I sought help to obtain justice and was referred to IOM in October 2023. Then, I started the asylum process, and in January 2025, I was notified that I would travel with my daughter to North Carolina, with my older brother, who is an American citizen, supporting me. Our trip was scheduled for February 4, 2025, but unexpectedly Mr. Trump's Executive Order suspended the trip, which was notified to me on January 27, 2025. Every day I am more worried because the democratic situation in El Salvador is serious. Just in September 2025, 9 people disappeared and 4 of them were found dead, but the official discourse is that we are the safest country in the world, when everything is false. Many people are leaving the country for fear of being imprisoned."

Merlismaye: “Our trip was on January 20, just the day of [Trump's] inauguration. We were informed about 5 days before that they would change the flight date for that reason. I had already withdrawn the children from school, sold all my belongings and closed my son's medical process as he is an oncology patient. I still hold on to hope in God that we can enter; my son's health is in His hands. I know that in the United States we will find a way for that brain tumor to disappear. At this moment, my children are without school enrollment, I do not have stable employment, and we are sleeping on mattresses on the floor since we sold everything before traveling. Imagine having to see your child with cancer sleeping on the floor every night. All this time he has been without receiving chemotherapy because it has taken a lot of bureaucratic procedures to restart his medical process here in Colombia. I pray to the Father every day since that Executive Order, that He opens the sea for us. We are good people. My dream? Peace, my son's health, stability, and being able to work as a Spanish teacher in a school in the United States."

Wed Geaga: “I am a refugee from Sudan; I fled home in 2008 due to the genocide that took place in 2003 in Darfur, Zalingei. I lost my mother and was separated from my family after the Janjaweed militia and Sudanese military destroyed and burned my village, Geaga. Then I fled to Kenya at Kakuma refugee camp. I stayed for about 8 months, but Kakuma wasn't safe at all, so I crossed borders from Kenya to Tanzania, then Zambia, Zimbabwe, until I reached here in South Africa.

I have been here in South Africa since 2008, but here I face xenophobia almost every day. I graduated but couldn’t find a job in my field of study, and I can’t go back to Sudan because my country is worse than before, and I can’t travel anywhere because I don’t have proper documents to travel with. I am still using refugee status. My appointment with USCIS was cancelled due to the refugee ban. My case has been suspended for the second time. I lost hope, but I don’t want to give up after this long wait.

I just want to have a life like any ordinary person in this world. I have a dream of completing my Master's studies and becoming a chartered accountant. I want to have a family and a job to support my young brothers and sisters and give back to the community."

Innocent: “We are a family of eight. We are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We fled war and we are currently staying in South Africa. Our case was approved for resettlement to the USA. We did everything, including cultural orientation and medical screening last year in September. Early last year, we received a call from IOM about our travel plan, and our case was waiting for a scheduling date to travel. We sold some of our belongings in preparation. We are here helpless and stranded. We are praying that the [travel] ban is lifted so people can travel and reunite with family. We are thankful that CWS and its members are fighting; may God keep you all strong and keep fighting. GOD BLESS YOU ALL."

The Moreno Family: “We are a Venezuelan family of five members who had to flee our country due to threats and persecution. The case holder is my wife, who was directly threatened with death in Venezuela. For this reason, we were forced to leave everything behind and seek refuge in Colombia. In August 2024, we received a conditional approval from the United States under the Safe Mobility program, but we were never able to travel because the process was suspended with the change of government. Since then, we have been living in painful limbo, unable to return to Venezuela and without a defined future in Colombia. Our eldest daughter is about to turn 17 and dreams of studying veterinary medicine, but opportunities are very limited in our current situation. As parents, our greatest wish is for our children to have access to education and a secure future, away from threats and uncertainty. Despite the difficulties, we continue to try to maintain hope, training ourselves and exploring opportunities abroad. Telling our story is our way of asking not to forget the refugee families who are trapped in blocked resettlement processes.”

Mother’s Plea for Hope: “I’m refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo currently living in Ethiopia with six children. I was full of hope to finally be on the path of being resettlement to the United States. But suddenly, that hope was taken away after the Trump administration suspended USRAP indefinitely and everything stopped. I keep waiting, praying and tell my children to be patient, but days turned into years. Life has become harder. What I see is fear and confusion in my children, and they ask me questions that I can not answer. I try to stay strong for them, but I, too, have lost hope. I feel helpless. I wonder if I will live a life where tomorrow is not a treat, but a promise. I speak out not for just myself but for the tens of thousands of refugees like me who have been approved, vetted and left stranded. I ask you, CWS, and all people of faith and compassion—please, do not forget us. Advocate for our resettlement. Please, help restore our hope. I dream of seeing my children in school, free from fear and full of dreams. I dream of a tomorrow that is better than today. I want my children to know that the world has not turned its back on them. We are mothers, fathers, children, survivors—still holding onto a thread of hope. Help us to turn hope into reality. Thank you for standing for refugees.”

Gabriela: “I live in Bogota as a refugee, and I urge you and your office to support refugees and encourage the Trump administration to fully restore the refugee resettlement program and resume admissions of the most at-risk refugees worldwide. I was accepted as a refugee in December 2023. We were very excitedly waiting for our travel date and underwent medical exams for the third time on January 19, 2025. We were informed that everything was ready to travel as soon as the exams were loaded, but the next day the ban came into effect. We lost our jobs, temporary documents and health insurance. We had to move since we had talked about handing over the house and selling our belongings, leaving our situation in Colombia in limbo. Our family members traveled, leaving our family separated.”

Samuel: “I am a refugee currently residing in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. I am a father of three boys and two girls, and I am writing to express my deep concern about the safety and well-being of myself and my family. I was scheduled to travel to the United States under the refugee resettlement program, with my original flight set for 15th January 2025. Unfortunately, that flight was canceled and rescheduled for 29th January 2025, which did not materialize. Since then, our situation has worsened. My son and I have both been attacked. We are now living in constant fear and uncertainty, as we do not understand the motives of those who attacked us. This violence has left my family traumatized and vulnerable. Our lives are at risk, and we do not feel safe in the camp. I respectfully call upon you to urgently advocate for me and my family’s protection and resettlement. Refugees like us, living in the diaspora, continue to face life-threatening challenges, and without timely intervention, our safety cannot be guaranteed. I plead with you to intervene in this matter and assist in ensuring that my family and I can find safety and live with dignity.”