Reuben Rotman, President and CEO of The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, was recently featured in eJewishPhilanthropy as a key voice in the national conversation surrounding the U.S. refugee resettlement program.

The article, which examines a controversial decision to fast-track white South African refugees into the U.S. while simultaneously issuing deportation orders to Afghan allies, underscores the growing tension and inconsistency in federal immigration policy—tensions that are directly impacting the refugee resettlement field and the Jewish human service agencies working on the frontlines.

Rotman, whose organization represents more than 170 nonprofit Jewish agencies across North America, spoke candidly to eJewishPhilanthropy about the strain this policy shift places on an already embattled sector.

“All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the administration decides that they’re going to allow this one narrow population access as refugees,” he told eJP. “They’re going to grant them immediate refugee status.”

While member agencies remain committed to humanitarian support for anyone in need, Rotman highlighted the larger implications of this decision—namely, the bypassing of established vetting processes and the distraction it creates from the broader crisis facing displaced populations worldwide.

“It’s not this pressing, dire emergency because they are sitting in refugee camps and they’re being persecuted and for their own safety, they must get out of their country,” he explained.

The article also touches on how recent funding cuts have forced many resettlement programs to shut down or significantly reduce staff. Rotman noted that these simultaneous pressures make thoughtful, criteria-based refugee support all the more critical.

“This all happened at the same time when most, if not all, of our agencies needed to lay off staff because their programs shut down,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Rotman ended on a hopeful note:

“I do believe that the country will return to its roots of being a welcoming safe haven for those fleeing persecution around the globe. I couldn’t work in this industry without holding on to hope.”

Read the full article here