Stories of Impact: Trump Refugee Ban & Funding Halt

In recent years, refugee resettlement in the United States has faced unprecedented disruptions. Executive actions taken by the Trump administration—including funding freezes, stop-work orders, record-low refugee admissions and travel bans—have left tens of thousands of people seeking refuge in limbo. Many who had completed years of vetting and were ready to travel found themselves suddenly grounded. Others who had already arrived in the United States were cut off from essential services, like housing, food and medical support—often with little warning and no reimbursement for costs already incurred.

Behind these policy shifts are real people—families separated and journeys interrupted. The stories gathered here reflect five distinct themes: the heartbreak of family separation, the loss of critical aid, the barriers to safe travel, urgent medical needs and the resilience shown in the face of adversity.

Together, they offer a powerful reminder of what's at stake when humanitarian systems are destabilized—and what strength looks like when communities rise to meet the challenge.