November 2025 Updates

From Church World Service, "State of Play: Refugees and Immigrants" (Submitted by Sid M.)

In October, the New York Times reported that once the administration does issue a Presidential Determination (PD) on refugee admissions for the new fiscal year, it plans to establish a historically low ceiling of 7,500 and prioritize “English speakers, white South Africans and Europeans who oppose migration” for resettlement. The move would exclude tens of thousands of refugees who have been through years of vetting and screening and are now stranded in the pipeline. Read last week’s statement from Church World Service covenant members condemning these plans here, and find ways to stand with stranded refugees here.

Many of the refugees who have been stranded by the administration’s policies are facing ever-more precarious and life threatening situations due to foreign aid cuts. Over the weekend, CNN reported on the impact of U.S. aid reductions on refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. UNICEF reports an 11% increase in the number of children with acute malnutrition since January as a result of USAID cuts.

Border Patrol agent shoots San Francisco pastor in the face with chemical projectile during prayer vigil. Rev. Bautista is somehow not the first faith leader in recent weeks to be shot in the head with a pepper ball by government officials amid peaceful protest of the administration's immigration enforcement policies. Read more about Rev. David Black’s experience protesting ICE in Chicago in this Sojourners article.

ICE’s actions across the country have grown increasingly disturbing and dystopian, but we must not look away. CNN reported yesterday on a recent ruling by a federal judge against the immigration detention of a man while his daughter battles advanced cancer. Additionally, George Retes is a U.S. citizen and army veteran who was racially profiled, tackled, and detained for several days by ICE in July. He is now leading advocacy on legislation that would increase accountability for federal officials.

Weeks before Thanksgiving, tens of millions set to lose access to federal food assistance. Benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are at risk for more than 41 million people as the government shutdown ticks on to record lengths. While the Trump administration has found creative (and possibly illegal) ways to continue paying ICE and the troops during the shutdown, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has said the Trump administration does not intend to make use of a significant contingency fund to pay out SNAP benefits. This means the government could default on SNAP funding to states, potentially halting payments of needed food assistance for November. The government has never let SNAP go unfunded, and it’s unclear what exactly will happen if it does. Several states are already taking precautionary measures (including halting new enrollments or readying their own emergency funds).

This all comes as many states are also preparing to implement provisions from the recently passed, so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” to restrict refugees and other humanitarian entrants from receiving SNAP benefits. Find ways to take action in support of those in your community at risk of going hungry here and here. Sign on to the CWS Ecumenical Statement on Hunger Justice here.