Her brother was supposed to enter the United States as a refugee. It's on hold now. : NPR

Ari Shapiro, host:

President Trump has taken a number of actions this week to restrict immigration, including an executive order suspending the refugee resettlement program. About 10,000 people fleeing war or persecution have already gone through a lengthy screening and approval process. They had arranged a trip to the United States and all of those plans were suddenly cancelled.

Juana Summers, host:

One of those people is Jacombo Marembe, who has lived in a refugee camp in Tanzania for 26 years.

Reine Marembe: (Through interpreter) He regrets that he will not come because he had prepared everything and now feels that everything is lost.

SOMMERS: His sister Reine Marembe spoke to us in Swahili. She spent 23 years in the same refugee camp after her family fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She came to the United States through the refugee program in 2022 with her husband and their five children.

Shapiro: She was placed in Fayetteville, Arkansas, but her parents and other siblings were also waiting for their chance at a camp in Tanzania. Reine's brother Jacombo cleared the vetting process and was due to arrive in early February.

Marembe: (Through interpreter) I'm properly prepared for the party. I'm ready for drinks, food, etc.

Shapiro: With refugee programs currently on hold, it's unclear when that reunion will happen.

Marembe: (Through interpreter) I am very disappointed with the outcome. I'm very sad about how things turned out.

SHAPIRO: Krish O'Mara Vignarajah has been helping people like Reine and her brother. She is president and CEO of the resettlement agency Global Shelter. Thank you for joining us.

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah: Thank you so much for having me.

Shapiro: You know, during the campaign, President Trump was very clear about his intention to cut down the roads for people to come to the United States. So, did the executive order surprise you, or was it pretty much what you expected?

Vignarajah: This still surprises me because President Trump was clearly clear on the campaign trail that he had a strong preference – to support legal immigration over unauthorized immigration. But in terms of security screening, community coordination, and mutual financial benefits, refugee resettlement is the program that represents the gold standard for legal immigration pathways. So I was dismayed to hear that refugee resettlement was on hold.

Shapiro: You mentioned screening. President Trump and his allies have said in the past that we don't do enough about who comes to the United States through the refugee program. What process does someone have to go through to obtain refugee status?

Vignarajah: Yes, so refugees are fleeing for their lives. They suffered political persecution and religious persecution. They have endured years of intense scrutiny, including FBI, CIA, INTERPOL inspections, health clearances. And, only when these processes are completed do they have the opportunity to relocate in the United States, a process that typically takes a year or two, if not ten years. For those refugee families who are lucky enough, they are a minority, as less than 1% of the world's refugees are resettled.

Shapiro: During the first Trump administration, refugee programs were suspended and then restored with lower numbers. The executive order says the program will be re-evaluated within 90 days. What do you expect to happen at the end of these three months?

Vignarajah: Well, I hope that means that the scheme will be reinstated and that we will have a strong pathway to support those who are fleeing for their lives? We have resettled as many refugees as possible under Republican administrations as Democrats. For example, President Reagan resettled 600,000 refugees, so I would expect it to be given the green light during that 90-day period.

Shapiro: One of the rationales in this executive order is that the current number of immigrants is straining American communities and their resources. Is this your experience in communities helping to resettle refugees? What have you seen?

Vignarajah: Yeah, I think in general, it's important to take a step back and understand the kind of driven, credible employee voices that we hear every day that companies are desperate for refugee representation. But refugee resettlement is a unique program because we work with the National Refugee Coordinator – who explains the conditions on the ground, whether adequate resources exist to support these families.

There is a complex algorithm that takes into account the job market, affordable housing, and whether or not a household has a US tie. We work with the State Department to actually determine where these families are going. So it's taking into account and making sure that local communities are not just overwhelmed, but they're excited and they're collaborating to feed their families.

SHAPIRO: Krish O'Mara Vignarajah of Global Shelter, thank you for talking with us.

Vignarajah: Thank you so much for having me.

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