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JFS Silicon Valley has been directed by our national resettlement partner, HIAS, to immediately discontinue services for 116 newly arrived refugees in our community.
On the evening of January 24th, we received an official notice from HIAS indicating that they were instructed by the federal government to cease all support for incoming refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders. These individuals are not undocumented; they have undergone extensive vetting and have been granted legal entry due to their service alongside U.S. military forces or their dire need for humanitarian protection. Many have endured years in refugee camps before being granted safety in the United States.
This abrupt decision is not just an administrative change, it has real and devastating consequences for the individuals and families who have arrived in Silicon Valley with the promise of support and stability. Our staff, who have been tirelessly working to help these families integrate into their new home, are left with no clear path forward.
A Crisis That Demands Action
Refugees are not removable individuals under federal law, yet the decision to stop services places immense strain on underfunded community organizations like us. Without immediate action, newly arrived refugees will be left without the essential services that help them find housing, employment, and stability.
If JFS Silicon Valley follows this directive without intervention, we would be forced to turn our backs on those we have pledged to support, leaving them with no access to shelter, employment assistance, or community integration services. This crisis is not theoretical—it is happening right now, and the impact will be felt across our community.
How You Can Help
We are calling on the Silicon Valley community to stand with us in supporting these vulnerable individuals. Here’s how you can make a difference:
Donate to JFS Silicon Valley Ruth Perkins Emergency Fund for Refugee Services which will be used to offset costs to support clients who have arrived within the last 90 days. https://www.jfssv.org/donation
Advocacy – Contact your federal representatives and urge them to reinstate resettlement services immediately.
Reach out to Secretary Rubio to:
Reverse course by excluding the R&P program from the definition of “foreign development assistance”, as used in the President’s Executive Order on “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid”.
Revoke the stop work orders and permit a resumption in R&P services for all eligible populations, including refugees and certain SIVs.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to welcoming the stranger, repairing the world, and treating every person with dignity and respect. We cannot do this alone, and we ask for your partnership in ensuring that kindness prevails.
For more information or to help, please contact Debbie Michels, Vice President of Development and Community Engagement at debbiem@jfssv.org
Together, we can ensure that kindness never ceases.
With hope and gratitude-
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