Major Accomplishments of USAID Programs with ELCA Involvement and Current Government Policies on Refugees

USAID (United States Agency for International Development) has historically collaborated with ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and its affiliated organizations, such as Lutheran World Relief (LWR), by providing funding for various humanitarian and development programs. These partnerships have enabled ELCA-affiliated groups to expand their reach and impact in areas like disaster relief, agriculture, and community resilience.

However, recent policy changes have significantly impacted these collaborations. In January 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order temporarily halting the disbursement of foreign development assistance funds, including those managed by faith-based organizations like LWR. This abrupt funding freeze has disrupted critical programs related to global health, refugee support, food security, and disaster relief.

The suspension of funds has led to considerable challenges for ELCA-affiliated organizations, hindering their ability to deliver essential services to vulnerable populations. In response, these organizations are seeking alternative funding sources and advocating for the restoration of aid to continue their vital work.

 Examples of USAID-Funded ELCA Programs:

• Honduras Agricultural Initiative: LWR partnered with USAID under the Feed the Future initiative to promote women's leadership in agriculture. This project aimed to improve nutrition and food access by encouraging women's participation in municipal politics and raising awareness of gender issues among men.

• Nepal Disaster Resilience Project: LWR implemented the USAID-funded Strengthening Local Governance for Disaster Resilient Communities (SAKSHAM) project in Nepal. The initiative focused on enhancing community resilience through disaster risk reduction and management, benefiting nearly 300,000 residents in flood-prone areas.

• Lebanon Housing Rehabilitation: Following the Beirut port explosion, LWR, with support from USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, facilitated the safe return of 1,986 vulnerable individuals to their homes by repairing damaged residences, providing stability amid ongoing crises.
  

  Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) has been actively involved in refugee resettlement and support services. In February 2025, LCSNW, alongside Church World Service (CWS) and HIAS, filed a lawsuit challenging the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and the associated funding freeze. The lawsuit argues that the suspension is unlawful and violates Congress's authority to make immigration laws. 

  As of March 7, 2025, the Trump administration has implemented several significant immigration reforms:

  Executive Actions

  • Executive Order 14159: "Protecting The American People Against Invasion" (Signed January 20, 2025): This order expands the use of expedited removal, denies federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions, imposes penalties for undocumented immigrants who fail to register, increases hiring for ICE and CBP agents, restricts access to public benefits, expands 287(g) agreements, and increases federal prosecutions for immigration-related offenses.

  Legislative Measures

  • Laken Riley Act (Signed into law on January 29, 2025): This law mandates the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who admit to, are charged with, or are convicted of theft-related crimes, assaulting a police officer, or crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury, such as drunk driving. It also allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for alleged failures in immigration enforcement.

  Policy Changes

  • Termination of Temporary Humanitarian Parole Programs: The administration plans to revoke the temporary legal status of approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the Russian conflict, as well as over 1.8 million migrants from various countries who entered under humanitarian parole programs initiated by the previous administration.

  • Resumption of Family Detention: The Department of Homeland Security has announced the reopening of two Texas detention centers, Karnes and Dilley, to detain families in the U.S. illegally. These facilities, operated by private contractor CoreCivic Inc., will house families with final deportation orders from federal judges.

  These measures reflect the administration's focus on stricter immigration enforcement and the reversal of policies from the previous administration.
  

  The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is a collaborative effort between multiple government agencies, each playing a specific role:

  U.S. Department of State (DOS) – Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM)

  • Leads USRAP and oversees the entire refugee admissions process.
  • Funds and manages Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) that process refugee applications overseas.
  • Works with international organizations like the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and IOM (International Organization for Migration) to identify and refer refugees for resettlement.
  • Coordinates refugee transportation to the U.S.

  U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

  • Conducts security screenings and in-person interviews of refugee applicants overseas.
  • Determines eligibility for refugee status based on U.S. law.

  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

  • Manages refugee resettlement once refugees arrive in the U.S.
  • Funds programs to help refugees with housing, healthcare, job placement, English language training, and social services through state and local partners.

  U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • Not directly involved in USRAP, but provides humanitarian aid and development assistance to displaced populations in refugee-producing regions.
  • Funds programs that support refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) abroad to improve conditions in host countries.

  Key Features of USRAP:

  1. Refugee Eligibility & Screening

     • Refugees must meet the United Nations definition of a refugee: someone unable to return to their home country due to persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
     • The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) interviews applicants and conducts security checks.
     • Medical screenings are required before travel.

  2. Priority Categories for Refugee Status

     • Priority 1 (P-1): Individuals referred by the UNHCR, a U.S. embassy, or an NGO.
     • Priority 2 (P-2): Groups of special humanitarian concern identified by the U.S. government.
     • Priority 3 (P-3): Family reunification cases for certain nationalities.

  3. Resettlement & Support

     • Approved refugees are assisted by Resettlement Agencies (RAs) like Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Church World Service (CWS).
     • Refugees receive financial assistance, housing support, job training, and language classes through the Reception and Placement (R&P) Program.
     • After one year, refugees must apply for a Green Card (permanent residency).

  4. Annual Refugee Admissions Ceiling

     • The U.S. president sets a yearly cap on refugee admissions in consultation with Congress.
     • The cap has varied widely depending on administration policies (e.g., 125,000 in 2022 vs. 18,000 in 2020 under different administrations).

  5. Key Challenges & Recent Developments

     • USRAP has faced temporary suspensions and policy changes, such as the travel bans and funding freezes in recent years.
     • In February 2025, LCSNW and other organizations filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, challenging a suspension of the program and funding freeze.
     • The Biden administration has focused on rebuilding USRAP after previous cuts, with increased admissions and expanded pathways.

     The Presidential Determination on refugee admissions sets the maximum number of refugees allowed to enter the United States each fiscal year (October 1 to September 30). Here's a historical overview of these annual ceilings and the actual number of refugees admitted:

     Fiscal Year	Ceiling	Actual

     2015	70,000	69,920
     2016	85,000	84,989
     2017	110,000	53,716
     2018	45,000	22,491
     2019	30,000	29,916
     2020	18,000	11,814
     2021	15,000	11,454
     2022	125,000	25,519
     2023	125,000	60,050
     2024	125,000	Data Pending
     2025	Suspended	Suspended

     Note: The data for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 reflect recent policy changes and may be updated as new information becomes available.