Episcopate of the US says 50 people in the midst of “uncertainty” on financing for migrants

The United States Catholic Bishop Conference (USCCB) on Friday fired 50 members of their migration and refugee services office, referring to a delay in federal government reimbursements.

The USCCB spokeswoman, Chieko Noguchi, in a statement shared with CNA – Ewtn News – said that the employment cuts were due to the “continuous uncertainty with respect to the resettlement of refugees and the general future of those programs ”

“Please, pray for these dedicated men and women who have given themselves so much of themselves at the service of their needy sisters and brothers,” said Noguchi.

The layoffs, reported for the first time by the website The Pillar on Friday night, mark an escalation of an increasingly profound political and financial crisis for the USCCB and its affiliated charitable agencies, whose role of decades of providing essential services for Migrants and refugees paid largely with federal funds has been the subject of scrutiny by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The USCCB allocates most of the more than 100 million dollars in federal subsidies that annually receives affiliated organizations that provide migration and refugee services, such as Catholic Charisies.

A large part of the financing comes from subsidies through the Federal Refugee Admission Program of the United States (USRAP) to help reassure refugees that have been examined by the federal government.

According to the Audited Financial Statements of the USCCBFederal financing covered more than 95% of what the Episcopate spent on refugee and migrants programs in recent years. The USCCB has spent a little more on these services than federal financing covers, according to financial statements.

In 2023the most recent year that is recorded, the USCCB spent more than $ 134.2 million in these services, and federal subsidies covered more than 129.6 million dollars of that expense. In 2022the USCCB spent almost $ 127.4 million after receiving almost $ 123 million from the government.

According to the USCCB Migration Committeethe Catholic Resessment Network of Refugees includes more than 65 affiliated offices throughout the United States. Bishops report that USCCB and its migration and refugee services help to reassure around 18% of refugees entering the country every year.

The Pillar On Friday night reported that the Secretary General of the USCCB, P. Michael Fuller, sent by email a memorandum announcing personnel cuts to the bishops of the United States on February 7.

The Memorandum followed the White House directives to freeze federal subsidies and loans to non -governmental organizations, and the statements of vice president JD Vance criticizing the USCCB for receiving federal money to help “reset illegal immigrants.”

Fr. Fuller informed the bishops in the memorandum that “as far as I know”, no resettlement agency or other non -governmental agencies, including Catholic Relief Services, had received reimbursement from the federal government for their services since Trump assumed the position January 20, The Pillar reported.

In his websiteCatholic Relief Services, which provides help to poor and other people in need in more than 100 countries, urges their collaborators to contact their representatives in Congress to let them know that they are “deeply concerned about the recent decision of the administration of the administration of stop work in almost all US foreign assistance programs. ”

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.