The fate of more than 2,000 refugees expected in Tennessee over the coming months remains after President Donald Trump halted resettlement and supported efforts that began on his first day in office.

The Tennessee Refugee Office, a Catholic charity, is starting a new start in the volunteer nation, working with a small number of nonprofit agencies to support refugees displaced by natural and humanitarian disasters.

According to Nashville Parish spokesman Rick Musachio, the office expects to welcome 2,385 new arrivals between September 2024 and September 2025. Refugees represent only a small portion of the state-recognized legal immigrants. They are thoroughly vetted by federal authorities before they are approved for resettlement.

But the president’s orders are Freezing transport of all refugees bound by the United States. After that, January 24th “Stop work” letter It was sent to resettlement agencies of refugees across the country to halt so-called “reception and placement” services. These temporary services include small paychecks – about $1,300 a month – We provide staff support to help refugee families pay for basic essentials in the first three months of the country, and help them become more oriented.

More than 140 refugees who have arrived in Tennessee since September have been affected by the suspension of reception and exchange services, according to data provided by the Tennessee Refugee Office. These refugees were welcomed by almost 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Haiti, Burma, Sudan, Venezuela, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

“It had a huge impact,” Mussacio said. “People with travel documents have been stopped wherever they are, and their recent arrivals need support through this program. They are important to build roots and establish life in the community. It’s a stepping stone.”

Mussacio said Catholic charities have limited reserves to temporarily attract, but the long-term suspension puts ongoing refugee services at risk. On Friday, the Catholic charity fired 11 refugee program staff, putting 60 more jobs in danger, he said. The agent issued it Emergency calls for volunteers Support during federal funding suspension.

The Trump administration has not provided a specific timeline as to when refugees will be lifted. Trump’s January 20 executive order said it would continue “until further entry of refugees coincides with US interests.”

Max Ricoff, director of development and communications, said staff at Nashville International Empowerment Centre, or Nice, had prepared for at least 64 overseas arrivals.

Those individual plane tickets have been cancelled. Many of those planning to arrive in Tennessee have families who have sometimes been waiting for them for a long time. Rikov called the cancellation “courtly.”

“The people we resettle in often come from dangerous or dangerous situations,” he said. “Many people in Nashville have been waiting for their families to arrive for years.”

Nashville was an important hub for refugees regenerating in the United States from all over the world. The long tradition of institutions that raise refugees has created Kurds, Vietnamese, Somalia and other communities. The Refugee Resettlement Agency, which works with the Tennessee Refugee Resettlement Agency, will help new arrivals get a start in Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Marina Peshterianu, associate director of Bridge Refugee Services in Chattanooga, “continue to serve our clients,” with the help of local churches and other volunteers, her agency said.

“I don’t want to plant fear or panic right now,” she said. “We all hope there is a reasonable solution. We’re just waiting for it to come.”