Another private institution involved in refugee settlement in Texas has ordered a layoff of over 101 workers.
The Texas Workforce Commission’s Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification Notices (WARN) database recorded the layoff of 101 workers at Interfaith Ministries (IM) of Greater Houston (Refugee Services Program) on March 11, although it did not show up in the WARN datasheet until March 13. The datasheet indicates that the notice was issued on March 11 and took effect on March 14.
An email from Interim CEO Henry Florsheim to stakeholders, obtained by the Houston Chronicle, explained some of the context around the layoffs.
“Due to changing federal policies that have both suspended the federal Refugee Resettlement Program and curtailed our national resettlement partners’ ability to timely reimburse IM, we have had to reduce our workforce in the area of refugee services and beyond,” Florsheim reportedly wrote.
“This decision ensures the financial stability and long-term sustainability of the organization. It does not reflect on the commitment or dedication of our impacted staff, who have been offered support and resources to help them transition to new employment,” the email continued, per the Chronicle.
A description of the program on Volunteer Houston’s website states, “The Refugee Services Program at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, in conjunction with the U.S. State Department and Episcopal Migration Ministries, resettles refugees fleeing their homeland in fear of political, social or religious persecution. Refugee Services works to ensure that every client feels welcomed upon arrival, becomes self-sufficient within six months, and ultimately becomes a productive member of the Houston community.”
The website continues, “The goal of our Refugee Services Program is the successful resettlement of newly arrived refugees into the Greater Houston area. With the support of our community, we provide housing placement, case management services, job placement, cultural orientation classes, English language instruction and so much more.”
This follows the layoffs of more than 200 employees at several private refugee resettlement programs across Texas, as reported by The Dallas Express in February. Each organization gave the same explanation as Florsheim for the layoffs.
Just hours after President Donald Trump assumed office for his second term on January 20, he issued an Executive Order pausing refugee admissions through the Refugee Admissions Program for 90 days.
“The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans …” per the order.
Trump’s administration subsequently gave another order to stop legal service providers from working with unaccompanied illegal alien children.
While it is unclear what Trump will do when the 90-day order expires, the President continued to issue similar orders, such as a directive stopping the subsidization of illegal immigration with American tax dollars, DX reported.
The Texas Workforce Commission website indicates that it has a variety of resources available to employees who have been laid off. These “Rapid Response services” may include, depending on the case, unemployment benefits and information on how to apply, job search help—including unemployment registration, community resources, résumé development, and interviewing skills—labor market information, stress management help, and financial management.