It can be easy to ignore the denial of humanity and dignity for those whom we don’t know. But for both of us, this is personal.
From our family members being refugees or working at a resettlement agency, we both have seen firsthand what it means for a family to escape war, famine, and persecution to rebuild their lives in America.
Throughout its history, America has been synonymous with safety, opportunity, and freedom. Until now.
In 1948, Congress passed the Displaced Persons Act to create a legal pathway for displaced Europeans from WWII to come and build their lives in America. Refugee resettlement organizations like the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI), Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), and Jewish Family Services of Greenwich (JFS) are critical to serving and supporting the thousands of refugees who want to rebuild their lives in Connecticut and contribute to our communities and our economy. These organizations support thousands of clients each year through their refugee programs and immigration legal services.
The Trump Administration’s federal funding freeze threatens these refugee resettlement organizations, preventing them from providing essential services. Not only is this action a stark departure from what America has historically viewed as our uniquely moral role in the world, but it also weakens our economy.
According to the American Immigration Council’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, immigrants generated some $1.6 trillion in economic activity in 2022 and contributed more than $579 billion in local, state, and federal taxes. Here in Connecticut, one in six workers is an immigrant. Over 50,000 immigrant entrepreneurs fuel local businesses in our state, generating over $1 billion in income. Despite the rhetoric, immigrants contribute to our economy.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s proposed budget cuts the current level of $3 million of state funding to these three organizations to only $1 million. This substantial cut would further damage access to vital services, especially since the federal freeze has eliminated a significant amount of these organizations’ funding.
We have thousands of refugees already here in our state who we have promised to support. We should not break that promise.
Connecticut must step up. Breaking our promise forsakes our values, weakens our communities, and hurts our economy. Despite the uncertainty ahead, we will continue to advocate for the state resources to support refugees and immigrants. We hope you will join us in this fight to make sure our state remains one that is welcoming to all.
State Rep. Kate Farrar (20th District) is Deputy Majority Leader and represents parts of Newington and West Hartford. State Rep. Jennifer Leeper (132nd District) represents Fairfield.