A Columbus non-profit that works with immigrants and refugees held a rally on Tuesday to speak out against a proposal to completely cut refugee admissions to the U.S. next year.
Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) held the rally to share stories of refugees in Columbus who would be impacted by the Trump administration's plans to halt refugee admissions.
“We have many families here waiting for loved ones, and mind you they’re trying to come here lawfully. They followed all the rules, paid for DNA testing for their family members, and they’re missing milestones with their children and parents,” said CRIS executive director Angie Plummer.
The rally was spurred by a Politico report published Thursday that says the Trump administration is considering blocking all refugees from the United States next year.
Plummer said Trump has cut down on the number of refugees allowed in the country each year since he took office. The administration has cut refuegee admissions by a third this year, to 30,000.
CRIS was supposed to settle 958 individuals in 2017 under plans from the final year of President Obama's term. After executive orders from Trump and subsequent court orders, Plummer said CRIS resettled a little more than 600 people.
The reduction has continued over the last two years. In 2018, CRIS resettled more than 300 people, while this year CRIS has received about 202 people so far, Plummer said.
