The Trump administration has made major changes to refugee policy, including a big drop in admissions – down to 7,500 this year (mostly white South Africans), though the U.S. typically admits no fewer than 60,000 each year. That sudden reduction blocked refugees who had been fully vetted, some of them family members of refugees currently living in our community; some even had plane tickets in hand when the order came down. And that’s not the only policy change that’s affected local refugees: among other things, a provision in Trump’s budget bill cut off SNAP benefits for refugees without a green card. (That primarily affects the newest arrivals, who are most likely to be in need.)
How are refugees in our community processing the changes? Aaron welcomes Flicka Bateman, who heads up the Refugee Support Center in Carrboro.
97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news and local voices in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every weekday morning, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck chats with government officials, UNC scholars, business and nonprofit leaders, area musicians, and others in our community as they share their thoughts, their experience, and their expertise on the central issues of today. Click here to listen back to all of Aaron’s conversations – and tune in to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” at 7:30 a.m. on 97.9 The Hill to hear those conversations live.
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