Journeys Interrupted: Dealing with Journey Obstacles and Border Closures

Charlie: “I was left stranded without a job and without money after going to the United States, and we were sure that the approval would come through. The main issue is that I was just days away from traveling; my flight was scheduled for the first week of February. I sold all my belongings and lost my job, and now things are very tough here in Colombia, and I still don’t have a steady job.”

US Embassy Yemen Staff: “I am one of the hundreds of employees affiliated with the U.S. Embassy in Yemen. Despite the legitimacy of our work, we faced arrest campaigns and many colleagues are still imprisoned by the Houthi group. Those of us who escaped to a third country seek asylum and resettlement but we are unaware of our fate. We sold everything and have no income. Most of us fled to Egypt where the resettlement process is on hold. We ask when our case will be considered… All we hope is that our voice reaches those concerned so they can complete our resettlement process.”

Angelique: “We are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are staying in South Africa. I’m scripting this on behalf of my mom, who’s the top of [our family’s] case. We are household of eight. We did our interview in 2021, and we had been accepted for resettlement. In 2023, we did our first medical display screen, and everybody was wholesome. None of us had well being points, and we had accomplished a cultural orientation however had been delayed. [Our travel] bought expired then we repeat. We did our medical screening thrice. Then, early final 12 months on December 4, 2024, IOM referred to as us and advised us about our touring plans and had been ready for scheduling date to journey. Unfortunately, we offered a few of our belongings for preparation. We hope that the ban is lifted so we will journey quickly thanks. God bless you all.”

An Afghan woman in Islamabad: “I am an Afghan woman and refugee currently living in Islamabad, Pakistan with my family. We were sponsored through the Welcome Corps program and had flights arranged to the United States in January 2025. Unfortunately, due to the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, our flights were cancelled, leaving us in a very difficult position. Since then, we have faced immense challenges. To prepare for our relocation, we sold most of our household items, and my children had to leave school. Now, we live in constant fear of deportation back to Afghanistan, where our safety is at grave risk. Pakistan has begun deporting Afghan refugees, and our Proof of Registration (PoR) cards expired on June 30, 2025. Without valid documents or any protective letter from the embassy, we cannot safely go outside due to concerns about encounters with police. Our greatest worry is that we are not safe here or in my country, Afghanistan. I kindly and respectfully request assistance from the U.S. government to help us resume our resettlement process and provide the support we so desperately need. Thank you for considering our story.”

Patrick: “I’m a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. My household and I’ve lived in Uganda for over 18 years. We started the method in 2021, and [our] property was offered within the promise of departure quickly to the United States, which didn’t occur. Things are completely dangerous. The U.S. authorities ought to contemplate at the very least the lengthy promised households [safety].”

Merlismaye: “Our trip was on January 20, just the day of [Trump’s] inauguration. We were informed about 5 days before that they would change the flight date for that reason. I had already withdrawn the children from school, sold all my belongings and closed my son’s medical process as he is an oncology patient. I still hold on to hope in God that we can enter; my son’s health is in His hands. I know that in the United States we will find a way for that brain tumor to disappear. At this moment, my children are without school enrollment, I do not have stable employment, and we are sleeping on mattresses on the floor since we sold everything before traveling. Imagine having to see your child with cancer sleeping on the floor every night. All this time he has been without receiving chemotherapy because it has taken a lot of bureaucratic procedures to restart his medical process here in Colombia. I pray to the Father every day since that Executive Order, that He opens the sea for us. We are good people. My dream? Peace, my son’s health, stability, and being able to work as a Spanish teacher in a school in the United States.”

Innocent: “We are a family of eight. We are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We fled war and we are currently staying in South Africa. Our case was approved for resettlement to the USA. We did everything, including cultural orientation and medical screening last year in September. Early last year, we received a call from IOM about our travel plan, and our case was waiting for a scheduling date to travel. We sold some of our belongings in preparation. We are here helpless and stranded. We are praying that the [travel] ban is lifted so people can travel and reunite with family. We are thankful that CWS and its members are fighting; may God keep you all strong and keep fighting. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.”

The Moreno Family: “We are a Venezuelan family of five members who had to flee our country due to threats and persecution. The case holder is my wife, who was directly threatened with death in Venezuela. For this reason, we were forced to leave everything behind and seek refuge in Colombia. In August 2024, we received a conditional approval from the United States under the Safe Mobility program, but we were never able to travel because the process was suspended with the change of government. Since then, we have been living in painful limbo, unable to return to Venezuela and without a defined future in Colombia. Our eldest daughter is about to turn 17 and dreams of studying veterinary medicine, but opportunities are very limited in our current situation. As parents, our greatest wish is for our children to have access to education and a secure future, away from threats and uncertainty. Despite the difficulties, we continue to try to maintain hope, training ourselves and exploring opportunities abroad. Telling our story is our way of asking not to forget the refugee families who are trapped in blocked resettlement processes.”

Mother’s Plea for Hope: “I’m refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo currently living in Ethiopia with six children. I was full of hope to finally be on the path of being resettlement to the United States. But suddenly, that hope was taken away after the Trump administration suspended USRAP indefinitely and everything stopped. I keep waiting, praying and tell my children to be patient, but days turned into years. Life has become harder. What I see is fear and confusion in my children, and they ask me questions that I can not answer. I try to stay strong for them, but I, too, have lost hope. I feel helpless. I wonder if I will live a life where tomorrow is not a treat, but a promise. I speak out not for just myself but for the tens of thousands of refugees like me who have been approved, vetted and left stranded. I ask you, CWS, and all people of faith and compassion—please, do not forget us. Advocate for our resettlement. Please, help restore our hope. I dream of seeing my children in school, free from fear and full of dreams. I dream of a tomorrow that is better than today. I want my children to know that the world has not turned its back on them. We are mothers, fathers, children, survivors—still holding onto a thread of hope. Help us to turn hope into reality. Thank you for standing for refugees.”

Gabriela: “I live in Bogota as a refugee, and I urge you and your office to support refugees and encourage the Trump administration to fully restore the refugee resettlement program and resume admissions of the most at-risk refugees worldwide. I was accepted as a refugee in December 2023. We were very excitedly waiting for our travel date and underwent medical exams for the third time on January 19, 2025. We were informed that everything was ready to travel as soon as the exams were loaded, but the next day the ban came into effect. We lost our jobs, temporary documents and health insurance. We had to move since we had talked about handing over the house and selling our belongings, leaving our situation in Colombia in limbo. Our family members traveled, leaving our family separated.”

Samuel: “I am a refugee currently residing in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. I am a father of three boys and two girls, and I am writing to express my deep concern about the safety and well-being of myself and my family. I was scheduled to travel to the United States under the refugee resettlement program, with my original flight set for 15th January 2025. Unfortunately, that flight was canceled and rescheduled for 29th January 2025, which did not materialize. Since then, our situation has worsened. My son and I have both been attacked. We are now living in constant fear and uncertainty, as we do not understand the motives of those who attacked us. This violence has left my family traumatized and vulnerable. Our lives are at risk, and we do not feel safe in the camp. I respectfully call upon you to urgently advocate for me and my family’s protection and resettlement. Refugees like us, living in the diaspora, continue to face life-threatening challenges, and without timely intervention, our safety cannot be guaranteed. I plead with you to intervene in this matter and assist in ensuring that my family and I can find safety and live with dignity.”

Doaa E. is a single mother with three kids who’ve been forcibly displaced and are presently dwelling as refugees in Cairo, Egypt. She was referred to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program due to her standing as a refugee and since she has household already dwelling in New Jersey. She and her kids went via the prolonged vetting and screening course of and at last had their journey booked to the U.S. – however her flight was amongst these cancelled by Trump’s indefinite refugee admissions ban. The kids are 19, 15, and 13. The case file exhibits the household as: “Survivors of Violence and Torture.”