Spokane community worries as Trump Administration halts immigration from 19 countries

A Spokane nonprofit faces challenges as the Trump Administration pauses immigration applications from 19 countries, prompting community concern.

SPOKANE, Wash. — We’re hearing from the Spokane community after the Trump Administration’s announcement to pause immigration applications from more than a dozen countries. This move comes in the wake of the shooting of two National Guard troops.

Folks with Thrive International say the people they serve are concerned and worried after the Administration paused immigration applications to 19 different countries.

Executive Director Mark Finney says their mission is in the name. At Thrive International, the mission takes many forms. From helping immigrants and refugees find housing and jobs to learning new skills.

“Folks coming from other countries, like Afghanistan, where women can’t drive, we help them learn to drive here. Founded right before Russian’s invasion of Ukraine, Thrive International has helped hundreds of refugees, including many from Ukraine,” said Finney. “To empower refugees and other immigrants to thrive.”

But, he fears that the mission is about to get more difficult, following the Trump Administration’s pause on immigration applications to 19 more countries. Finney says the people they serve are worried.

“So, there is a lot of concern around here, a lot of people who basically just want to know that they can be here,” said Finney.

A policy memo released on Tuesday from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services outlines the countries facing travel restrictions. That includes Afghanistan, Iran and Venezuela.

This move comes days after an Afghan National killed one National Guard member and critically injured another in Washington, D.C.

Finney argues that despite the tragedy in D.C., the facts and the Administration’s decision don’t correlate.

“That’s absolutely tragic, no justification, and we have every reason to believe at this point that the person acted alone. So creating a travel ban that’s going to affect millions of people who had nothing to do with that is just creating lots and lots of pain and suffering,” said Finney.

With the pause in effect as of Wednesday night, Finney says the non-profit is still assessing what the overall impact will be to the people they serve.

Despite the uncertainty, he says they’ll be monitoring the situation closely, keeping a positive attitude for the people they serve.

“We need positive, forward-thinking solutions,” said Finney.