GGIC terminates refugee resettlement program after Trump EO suspends entry of refugees under program
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Greater Gainesville International Center (GGIC) announced today that their refugee resettlement program has been terminated because President Trump issued an Executive Order proclaiming that “entry into the United States of refugees under the USRAP (U.S. Refugee Admissions Program) would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.”
The announcement from GGIC stated, “This means we, nor any other agency, will no longer be able to provide the critical and intensive support that so many newly arrived families depend on to rebuild their lives in our special community. This loss is profound—not just for GGIC, but for the families who counted on us to be their first welcome in a new country, their guide through the unfamiliar and overwhelming, and serve as their bridge to a new beginning and a better life.”
The announcement requested donations so GGIC can “continue to strengthen our direct support services, ensuring that immigrants and international newcomers have access to cultural orientation classes, financial literacy training, ESL classes, and other essential programs to help them not just survive, but thrive. We are working to expand our virtual educational exchange programs, deepening international understanding by connecting young people and teachers through meaningful collaboration.”
GGIC also plans to continue cultural exchanges, economic empowerment initiatives, and cultural events.
Today a judge in Seattle blocked parts of the executive order in a national injunction, ruling in favor of plaintiffs that included the International Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, and individual refugees and family members.
In response to a question from Alachua Chronicle about whether that ruling changes the decision announced by GGIC, GGIC President/CEO Lauren Poe responded, “We have no say in the matter. The President ordered USRAP to stop all new cases and issued a stop worker order effective 1/24. Until that order changes, there will be no refugee resettlement by anyone, GGIC or otherwise.”
Is GGIC an NGO? Is Poe riding on the #USAID gravy train? Happy to see they can request donations, don’t like any tax dollars funding any NGO. NGOs should compete for donations from the marketplace.
Poe certainly WAS riding the gravy train, payback for party loyalty. I figure Ward thought he had one set up too for being all in for Biden, then Harris, with nary a hiccup between the two of them.
Sorry Ward, your blue parachute might not be there when you step away. Then you can go TDS nutty like areola.
Oh yes, Poe was riding that gravy train for sure.
https://www.rescue.org/
“Urgent: Please Help”
Deport ALL illegal aliens permanently.
These are refugees. Big difference.
Refugees are supposed to flee to an adjacent country, not Uncle Sugar. There aren’t any legitimate Mexican refugees.
Refugees from what Betty?
What do you not understand about “illegal?”
Poor Poe……
Jennifer was this announcement something GGIC personally sent you as a press release or did they announce this publicly anywhere? I would ask Lauren myself but he likely won’t speak to me about it after reporting on Sister Cities location.
https://www.gnvinfo.com/breaking-lauren-poe-moves-sister-cities-to-ignite-life-center/
It was sent out in the GGIC newsletter.
Thanks.
Recently there was a shooting in Westchester Manor neighborhood. No one was charged and it was ruled self defence. Is there anywhere on line where a person can access the police report to see more details?
Do you know where I can find a good recipe for noodles?
And where are our Sister Cities at, again?
Good! Now look for financial malfeasance in Poe’s personal accounts.
These are supposed to be charities, not hidden government operations financed by taxpayers. It figures Lauren Poe, who did so much harm to GNV is still feeding at the taxpayer trough.
Poe stuck us with the straws ordinance and that’s why you’ve been drinking from paper straws for the last 5 years… that’s about to change and we’re gonna go back to plastic straws a la Trump EO banning paper straws.
Hanrahan stuck us with biomass plant and that’s why $1 billion in debt and now have utility authority..
Go woke, go broke!
Real refugees or fake? Democrats added “economic emergency” refugees to real victims (of natural disasters, commie political and religious persecution victim refugees wasn’t enough?).
Just so NGO Dem politicians’ family members could flood America with more handout voters, and get campaign kickbacks.
LEGAL immigrant here. They are sad and unable to provide the necessary support the new arrivals need? How about not welcoming because they came here ILLEGALLY and perhaps direct them to go the legal route to be able to come here? Oh yeah, no lawyers will work for free! Exactly, it costs money but if they really want to be good citizens then the price is very high!
Reallocate the resources to veterans? Nah who are we kidding they’ll paint some sidewalk rainbow instead
Now abide by Trumps Executive order banning paper straws!
The US has made it harder to enter the country legally, as it has in the past like during the 1920s etc, just after the period when many of our ancestors got in in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Given the low birth rates of our native population, we need immigrants in large numbers if we are to maintain a growing and competitive economy. Also given that our immigrants have lower crime rates than native born Americans and that the majority – from Mexico, Central America, and Haiti – are hard working by nature, we have been lucky in who comes here. The irrational hatred and scapegoating Trump has fed and ridden to election is counter productive to our own interests and inhumane to those who – like our ancestors – sought a better life here.
There is no doubt that over time young women in Georgia have been murdered by native born Americans from other states, but nobody started a national; movement to keep Floridians or South Carolinians out of Georgia.
What a foolish statement with no factual backup.
I’ve repeatedly posted data and studies on immigrants – legal and illegal – and crime. They mostly agree their crime rates are lower than native born Americans and at worst are about the same. Highlighting crime committed by illegals argues for catching criminals of all and any background, not stigmatizing unfairly an entire population.
We have historically admitted over/near a million legal immigrants per year.
It should be hard to immigrate to America. We are the best nation in the world.
Refugees are one thing, criminal, illegal aliens are quite another.
Criminal aliens – and all criminals – should be the main target and was during the Obama administration. Indiscriminate rounding up of gardeners and cleaning ladies is not productive for anyone. Tighten the border and provide a path – long and arduous – for those here illegally but peacefully and productively. The 2013 immigration bill which passed the Senate on a bi-partisan basis was killed in the House based on the Hastert Rule (must have majority GOP support to get on the floor) provided much of this while the fall 2024 bill Trump killed for pure political reasons provided heightened border security and faster processing of applications, but no path to citizenship.
Good. Now they can focus on our own home grown criminals, homeless, mentally ill, and sexual offenders.
Refugee are illegals as they crossed the boarder which makes them illegal, so deport them
While some refugees may be illegal, not all illegals are refugees.
Try not to stereotype.
Good. Too bad there isn’t a way to make Poe return whatever funds he has received already.