Federal budget cuts force Catholic Community Services of Utah to wind down 50-year refugee resettlement program
Apr 1, 2025, 8:05 PM
Catholic Community Services of Utah has announced that changes in federal funding have forced its 50-year-old refugee resettlement program to begin winding down. The agency said the closure will impact hundreds of refugees who rely on the service each year. (Catholic Community Services)
(Catholic Community Services)
SALT LAKE CITY — Catholic Community Services of Utah has announced that changes in federal funding have forced its 50-year-old refugee resettlement program to begin winding down. The agency said the closure will impact hundreds of refugees who rely on the service each year.
And with just enough funding left to assist the 300 individuals currently in their care, CCS said it can no longer accept new clients for resettlement.
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“This is a life-saving program, and while Congress cannot fully shut it down, they are reviewing the situation right now,” said Aden Batar, Refugee Services Director at CCS.
Batar said that the program’s budget cuts mean they won’t be able to help new refugees settle in Utah.
Refugee advocates say Utah can do better
Meanwhile, advocates across the state are speaking out, saying that Utah has long been a safe haven for refugees. Norm McKellar, an attorney with the Refugee Justice League, had anticipated these cuts at the beginning of the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown. In response, McKellar’s group and other advocates sent a letter to Gov. Spencer Cox urging him to take action against the moves.
They have yet to receive a response.
“There’s a lot happening at the federal level, but we don’t have to follow suit. Utah can do better. We can take care of our residents and do the right thing,” McKellar said.
McKellar pointed out that eliminating refugee resettlement programs removes essential support for individuals who want to make Utah their home.
“The government provides a small amount of money to help with rent and basic necessities, and I mean basic necessities,” he said.
McKellar added that some of his clients are facing threats of deportation in Utah, making the need for these programs even more urgent.
Workforce Services says they’ll support remaining efforts
The Utah Department of Workforce Services, which oversees the state’s refugee services, provided insight into the situation in an emailed statement as follows.
Nationwide there has been a pause on refugee resettlement since January 27, 2025, and no new refugees have been resettled in Utah. This excludes those already living here such as Victims of Trafficking or those who have been approved for Asylum. As federal programs are changing, in partnership with local community providers, we continue to serve our refugee friends and neighbors who call Utah home in their journey to self-sufficiency and successful integration. While we continue to evaluate information coming from our federal partners, we are working closely with our local resettlement agencies and partners to support their efforts.
