Trump cancels travel for hundreds of refugees already cleared to come to Washington

Refugees who had been approved to come to the United States before a deadline next week suspending America's refugee resettlement program have had their travel plans canceled by the Trump administration.
Thousands of refugees who fled war and persecution and had gone through a sometimes yearslong vetting process to start new lives in America are now stranded at various locations worldwide. That includes more than 1,600 Afghans who assisted America's war effort, as well as relatives of active-duty U.S. military personnel.
President Donald Trump paused the program this week as part of a series of executive orders cracking down on immigration. His move had left open the possibility that refugees who had been screened to come to the U.S. and had flights booked before Monday's deadline might be able to get in under the wire.
But in an email dated Tuesday and reviewed by The Associated Press, the U.S. agency overseeing refugee processing and arrivals told staff and stakeholders that "refugee arrivals to the United States have been suspended until further notice."
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A little more than 10,000 refugees from around the world had already gone through the lengthy vetting process to come to the U.S. and had travel scheduled over the next few weeks, according to a document obtained by the AP. It was not immediately clear how many of those had been set to arrive by the upcoming deadline.
According to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), the state’s refugee resettlement agencies resettled 917 refugees and 790 Special Immigrant Visa holders for a total of 1,707 people who arrived in the federal fiscal year 2025, as of Dec. 31, 2024.
11 refugee resettlement agencies in Washington had an approved capacity to resettle 5,780 people while under the Biden administration. DSHS estimates that approximately 1,135 people had been assured for travel and resettlement in Washington as of Jan. 20, 2025.
"Many of these community members in Washington had volunteered to privately sponsor refugees through Welcome Corps, and many had refugees assured to arrive in the next few weeks. These cases will not be able to travel," said Norah West, Assistant Director of Communications at DSHS.
Gabriela had been preparing for the arrival of her parents, her brother and other relatives who had tickets to fly to Los Angeles from Guatemala in early February after their refugee status was approved in November. The family had to flee Guatemala because Gabriela refused to let her children be part of violent gangs and the family started getting death threats.
Once her family got their plane tickets, they sold their house and all their belongings, and she had taken out an $800 loan to buy them furniture for their new home, said Gabriela, who requested to be identified only by her first name for fear that something would happen to her parents in Guatemala.
Then on Tuesday, their flight was canceled.
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[@anti-rioter-15]

Tom Homan dismantling Sanctuary city politics is going to be hilarious.

[@wildadventures4173]

Yes, yes, yes 😁💪👍🥰🇺🇲 Saving Washington State Millions, Washington Taxpayers don't need to support outsiders when we can barely afford our own needs.

[@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401]

Exactly

[@shaunlucia524]

Completely true!

[@TheHomelander06]

Yall mad funny you think that money's going back to you😂😂😂 your boy just put a freeze on funding for 72million Americans. 🎉🎉

[@ourlifeinwashington4114]

Good job Mr. President. Thank you for hearing the majority of the country and doing our will. If you want to blame someone for empty promises blame the Biden admin they did this to us all

[@MohamedAli-xh8vt]

Not good job

[@ourlifeinwashington4114]

@MohamedAli-xh8vt why because you're a criminal?

[@CatEyes2020]

Well now they can resettle 1700 tent people

[@VxnRvn]

making us citizenship actually mean something again

[@user-cp2jh4yr4q]

1986 immigration act all over again MAGA Reagan gave over 20 MILLION ILLEGALS citizenship in 2015 Trump said he would "let the good ones stay" with an expedited citizenship

[@j-demiartv6147]

I’m fighting debt, high cost of living, expensive food, high crime and defunded police. I would like my tax dollars to improve my life first please.

[@ebe5179]

Here in United States we have homeless and veterans living on the streets how about you help them first !!! Anyway your using our tax money should be expended on the citizens of this country

[@acqueenarkpyanne721]

Put America first...

[@opinionated4219]

My understanding is that Trump has called for a temporary halt to the various ways people are permitted to enter the US so he and his advisors can assess the situation that currently exists.

[@rungfang27]

Yeah but if they said it that way,they could not make him look bad.

[@andreadickinson3076]

I don’t understand we have a housing crisis where do they want yo put them anyway ?

[@andreadickinson3076]

Egypt and Jordania could help with their Muslim brothers or is there a reason why they would not want them in there?

[@handysmith-kv1tc]

THE SAME REASON WE DON'T !

[@sankei6630]

you know why

[@rickysamples2777]

ITS LIKE GROUND HOG DAY AND CHRISTMAS ALL IN ONE. I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE MY VOTE AT WORK.

[@rickrobbins1037]

We're full

[@jackcooper4936]

Yes! Go home!

[@anastasiaburr3959]

They should fight for their security in their own countries, and get rid of their dictators! We too have felt very insecure for the last five years!

[@darrinatorrr]

Not our problem

[@skroggins]

Good

[@CliffggoHxjchg]

Putting Americans wishes first, thank you President Trump!

[@wheezermacdonald2789]

How's the price of eggs? 😂

[@jovanycastro5737]

@@wheezermacdonald2789if u broke just say that

[@wheezermacdonald2789]

@@jovanycastro5737 In Canada we pay $10 at the Walmart for 30 large eggs. Are you a sucker or a loser? 😂

[@luzfrostquick9998]

​@@jovanycastro5737well trump was using grocery prices as leverage to get votes bc people have been complaining about it and he weaponized it , so questioning it , especially when there's been talk he says he can't do anything about it , is concerning

[@jonathanchui]

@@wheezermacdonald2789if price of egg is your problem you are already at the bottom in life 😂😂😂😂

[@WalkiTalki]

Already having an impact on WA media. The comments section of this report would have been disabled if it posted last year.

[@jordanmiller4186]

Honestly, as someone who drags them often, they do a pretty good job not censoring comments.

[@janetceniza8091]

Enter and EXPECT Wash. tax payers to support them. I’m out of money, we can not take in the world.

[@yeetmama]

GET OUT!!!!!! GO HOME!! We need to organize against theze treacherous politicians

[@VioletDelta-r6x]

A lot of fear for the future for refugee lawyers lol😂

[@davidgrant5044]

Rise up and fight for your country just like we did.

[@prescilashaver2412]

AMERICA FIRST!!!

[@Ldeb54]

Well done President Trump!! Send them home!! It’s time to take care of American citizens!!

[@donnap4940]

Thank you President Trump. In our cities I no longer even hear English anymore. What is really bad is the new people do not assimilate.....they expect us to assimilate and comply with their every whim.

[@Samos12]

I'm in full support of helping refugees, but refugees should go to the first country closest to their country that will accept them. They should not get to pick and choose a country halfway around the world. Refugees from Venezuela are skipping over a dozen countries that speak their own language to come to the US.

[@mexifry222]

As a greater Seattle area person this is great news! Screw all these moochers taking over our South King County areas! People who grew up here can't even buy homes but they're stuffing these people into houses and apartments made for us!

[@mirceahoria8341]

Great, thank you Donald Trump!

[@lisa-cp8kx]

Good!

[@wishIKnewHowToLove]

BOO-HOO

[@handysmith-kv1tc]

🤣🤣LMAO

[@yeetmama]

IDGAF!!! Who created these taliban "refugees?" DEMOCRATS!!!!

[@edwinmalachy]

Uh. WE did. They worked with the US while we occupied the country for 20 years, and they left them stranded with a more powerful enemy armed with OUR equipment!

[@edwinmalachy]

They served the US under Bush and Trump, not just democrat

[@Dragonfly_vbz]

😂 Follow the Constitution.

[@americanarborcare]

You would never lie to keep the gravy train running now would you....

[@handysmith-kv1tc]

Aw gee....perish the thought!...🤣🤣

[@regnar19881]

God Bless our new President. Finally fixing the broken system.

[@acqueenarkpyanne721]

Stop America is on repair.. first..

[@iitzjustus_]

Perioddddd , thank you almighty t’

[@robtucker6303]

At least SOMEONE is trying to save this state and country.

[@michellerondina8381]

There's lots of homeless including our own Veterans all statewide. Take care of them first! Before outsider!

[@acqueenarkpyanne721]

Stop using tax payers money.. stop first

[@libreverdaderamente4450]

America first !!🇺🇸

[@MusicMike747]

195 countries for the “refugees” to choose from. The US is closed. Pick another

[@chegadorn]

Keep them out!

[@rhondae8222]

Amen! Praise Christ. 😊

[@lagodifuoco313]

Yeah, read your buybull. Start with Matthew 25:31-40

[@tyronetrump1612]

only flight he is not halting are the outbound ones and they are more than welcome to get on that plane. all these immigrant rights programs and NGO's need to be jailed

[@narradormotivos5046]

THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT OBLIGED TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE WORLD WITH MONEY FROM CITIZENS' TAXES. THEY MUST END THIS AID TO REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS. THIS IS BECOMING A PLAGUE THAT IS DESTROYING THE USA AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. ANYONE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND BECOMING A REFUGEE TO RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES PAID WITH TAXES FROM THE CITIZENS OF THOSE COUNTRIES.

[@kenishaw1040]

No apologies

[@philsgoodideabadidea]

Thank you

[@leorabenjack3877]

They just need to turn around.....

[@bobbiedeleon4845]

Wop wop! I report to deport, it's my new favorite sport!

[@ivonneguerinoni3881]

👏👏👏👏👏👏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@mayatj9932]

Blessed be President Trump it is time to just concentrate on our own country and our own citizens first.

[@okistewart1359]

Who approved? 😂 Biden!

[@jeannemyers489]

SWEET! ❤

[@SC-je7ew]

Would be nice if the WA state governor took care of the issues that actual law abiding WA state citizens are dealing with such as crime!!

[@lisa-cp8kx]

Thank you Mr President Trump

[@webcrawlerfan]

Looking like a good start...

[@squidworth2570]

Yeah ain't it cool!

[@vileoneful]

good and PRAISE THE LORD

[@NinaFahey]

The ones that wanted to come legally need to start blaming the ones that are here illegally. Sorry you're having to pay the price

[@jordanmiller4186]

Thank GOD

[@Ggg496]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@pearllemdal5988]

Great news

[@book_worm22]

No thanks. Pretty sure i ran into one of these people in Colorado. Covered fully from head to toe except for the eyes and smelled really bad. Try dubai or somewhere else 😊

[@BernardLimpet-qd8bk]

Crying that river no longer works 👍

[@rayclarke9114]

CUT IT COMPLETELY OFF, WE ARE NOT YOUR CHAPPARON

[@metroman8185]

Mexican parents became citizens and voted for Trump!!

[@madi22908]

What about bidens pardons?

[@LizDarrow-Bellingham]

trump calls it “no way jose”

[@jesscpyleful]

Thank goodness. Btw it’s still harder to become a citizen of Canada than the US.

[@dtsh4451]

Can Washington state take care of its own citizens 🤡?

[@debbie189]

No

[@macdonaldmuli2385]

Trumps time will end soon.. will watch America grow even better without him, the world was even there without him,we even don't dream of this country life long

[@kimk2635]

None of this is helping our country

[@samsingh9592]

Donald J Trump, Best president in American history.

[@Aryan-jx3cb]

FREE RIDE IS OVER!

[@emeraldosiris5112]

It’s about time.

[@_ac_7649]

Enough burkah “refugees”

[@MrDedvalson]

We voted for Trump!

[@JohnSmith-nj4zq]

@1:18 That's b.s about refugees being vetted more than legal immigrants.

[@edwinmalachy]

Oh no. He should never do that

[@amg4897]

Haha

[@jameslshaffer5463]

Who cares too many here i tired of paying for them

[@MrDedvalson]

Trump is keeping his promises on day 1!

[@dianehead4095]

Great

[@ricksilaki709]

corruption is percution tuh

[@daveerk6573]

Why did DEMENTIA JOE leave them there⁉️⁉️⁉️

[@luzfrostquick9998]

First you all were complaining they should come in the right way and when they try to , its a no way , make it make sense 🙄

[@Jodysart]

GET OUT!

[@evillangbuildsmc2468]

First

[@lonialex3846]

This is not what Jesus wanted. Read your Bible if you even have one.

[@PrincessHarlotte]

Jesus didn't want gangs, Fenty & child trafficking either. Read your Bible.

[@J-ellO]

This is just disgusting , i’m all for rounding up the criminals, the cartels, and all the shady characters that are illegally in this country. But people who have gone through the system legally, and have waited in their own countries are now being shut out. that’s barbaric. that’s going just too far. How did his wife get into the country legally, what if she had been turned away at the last moment ? She wasn’t exactly an upstanding citizen in her last career was she!

[@poollife777]

Get over yourself she was fine she was a model not something else. She had money and she was already here she has dual citizenship. She didn't leave her country like a thief in the night. So why don't you put the blame where it belongs. The blame belongs to all of the illegal immigrants. Because of them we now have to concentrate on getting all the ones especially the criminals out of the country and we now have no room for the ones that are trying to do it right until we take care of it. So put your anger on them because otherwise your anger is not righteous it is nasty and it's blasphemous and it's gossip. Very very sad of you. You sound jealous.

[@lorietaylor4665]

This is not disgusting, your disgusting for putting jumpers before the citizens of my state. You have no idea if they were correctly checked or are legally allowed here. Tired of being taxed to death

[@basecitizen]

Biden was flying millions of people in without vetting them. NO VETTING!! He was abusing and ignoring our immigration laws. Just because Biden "approved" them, doesn't mean they are legal, or that they are eligible for refugee or asylum status. Most all of those who have entered under Biden lied. That's MILLIONS of unvetted people - Criminals, mentally ill, terrorists. Most were just wanting to come in for economical reasons only. THAT'S NOT A REASON FOR REFUGEE OR ASYLUM STATUS. Many foreign people are trying and waiting to come in legally through the proper procedures, but are being held up due to Biden's illegals and "probation" abuses. What Biden did for 4 years was illegal, unconstitutional. Wake up!!

[@rungfang27]

The program was pretty shitty, they let in some not so good ones through the progrem. And yes it needs to be overhauled.

[@J-ellO]

@ geez sweetie, if it bothers you that much move

[@RonBurgandy-o5z]

Put Ferguson and any other politician in Washington in prison for interfering......

[@Jewels1366]

GOOD NO MORE FREELOADERS

[@AndrewTrung]

The wrath of MAGA just keeps getting bigger and better 🇺🇸

[@bobjohnson6241]

great, let them stay out

[@sangreporsangre7630]

Why does it have to be only as only United States?Take them to a different country go to a different country, we already have more than enough.

[@eddiewalls152]

Trump🇺🇲🤘🇺🇲