A recent study from the University of Utah found that refugees face higher levels of food insecurity upon receiving their first job. Newly resettled refugees face food insecurity levels nearing 85% — peaking when federal aid is denied.
According to the American Immigration Council, a refugee under United States law is “a person who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.”
Federal changes and challenges
Under President Trump’s second administration, refugees have faced significant restrictions. On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admission Program (USRAP), an agency that ensures refugees are offered assistance upon arrival in the U.S.
Federally, Trump has also attempted to ban migrants from receiving asylum if they enter through the southern US border.
Virginia Maynes, a senior immigration attorney, said one of the most significant challenges facing refugees today is rapidly changing policies in an interview with the Chronicle. “I think every time the law changes, there’s confusion about how it’s going to impact individual people and what that means.”
Maynes also said the process of resettling is a significant challenge for Utah refugees. “You arrive in a country [where] you don’t speak the language, you’re not aware of the customs. They’re very different, potentially, from your own prior customs, and you’re dealing with trauma,” she said. “I think all of those things impact your ability to hit the ground and immediately integrate into a society.”
Another issue facing refugees is the length and complexity of the legal process to remain in the US. Completing an application for refugee or asylum status in the US can take several months or longer. “[Refugees] have to go through a very complex legal process in order to establish that they meet the definition and that they should stay in the United States and deserve protection here,” Maynes said.
Maynes also mentioned challenges with changing application requirements. “Just this week, we’ve seen a lot of confusion with changes regarding fees with applications. Where do those need to get paid? Who needs to pay them? And when do you need to pay them?” she said. “The lack of clarity provides opportunities for confusion.”
Job instability and misinformation
Mackenzie Heinrichs, Director of the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic at the U, explained that predatory employers are a major concern for newly resettled refugees and immigrants. “A lot of predatory employers will sometimes mislead, or outright lie to immigrant workers and say, ‘I’ll bring out ICE if you don’t do this,’” Heinrichs said.
Heinrichs referenced her immigration lawyer experience, stating a major help to both refugees and immigrants is being educated on their workers’ rights. “[Migrants] are not allowed to be paid less because they’re of foreign status. Nationality is a protected class, so you can’t be discriminated against because you’re a foreign national,” she said.
Maynes also expressed how misinformation “can lead to a lot of opportunities, unfortunately, for people to make mistakes, and also for people to come in and take advantage of this population.”
Local impact of nonprofits
Maynes emphasized the Catholic Community Services (CCS)‘s role as a nonprofit working in the Utah community. “I get a really good look at nonprofits working at a nonprofit,” she said. “Seeing kind of just the amount of care that goes into each individual case … it’s inspiring.”
Heinrichs also mentioned the role local organizations have in helping migrants resettle. “[These organizations] help people get jobs, help people do basic English classes so they can learn how to order food or take the bus,” she said.
Maynes expressed her gratitude for her fellow colleagues at CCS. “I’m so grateful for the work and the team that put together these services, as well as the other nonprofits across Utah,” she said. “People are going to be taken care of no matter which agency they’re at.”