Catholic bishops end refugee aid partnerships due to funding cuts

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced their decision to terminate decades-long partnerships with the federal government that supported refugees and unaccompanied migrant children in the United States. This decision was made public on a Monday, following the Trump administration's abrupt suspension of funding for these essential aid programs. The cessation of these partnerships is described as 'heartbreaking' by Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who stated that the bishops can no longer maintain services at the same level or in the same manner without federal support. The bishops have provided resettlement services to more than 930,000 refugees since 1980 and are now seeking alternative funding sources. The partnerships with local Catholic Charities enabled the bishops to deliver significant services to those in need, and the discontinuation of these services is expected to impact both staff and the vulnerable populations they served. The decision comes amid ongoing legal disputes regarding allocated federal funding; a lawsuit filed by the bishops seeking recovery of funds owed to them for services rendered has not yielded a favorable outcome, further complicating their ability to provide assistance. As of now, current agreements facilitating aid will expire at the end of the fiscal year, highlighting the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate alternative support plans for the affected refugees and children.