Thousands of refugee families across Oregon are facing sudden losses of food assistance and growing uncertainty due to recent federal policy changes. Community leaders, including Catholic Charities, are calling for urgent action to prevent families from losing stability after years of rebuilding their lives.
Across Oregon, refugee families who came here seeking safety and opportunity are facing a new and deeply unsettling reality.
Catholic Charities of Oregon joins fellow members of the Oregon Refugee Resettlement Collaborative in raising serious concern about recent federal policy actions that could lead to mass arrests and detention of refugees who have not yet obtained permanent residency, along with the sudden loss of critical supports like food assistance and health coverage.
For thousands of families, the consequences are already being felt.
Progress at Risk for Families Rebuilding Their Lives
Over the past five years, roughly 15,000 refugees have lawfully resettled in Oregon after extensive federal vetting. Many are now workers, students, parents, and neighbors helping strengthen communities across the state. Until recently, many families were making steady progress toward stability through employment, education, and community support.
Today, that progress is at risk.
Recent federal actions have eliminated SNAP food benefits for refugee households and threaten the loss of Medicaid coverage later this year. The loss of SNAP assistance alone represents an estimated $13 million removed from local Oregon communities. That is support that helped families put food on the table while contributing to local economies.
Community leaders across Oregon are seeing the impact firsthand.
“As a physician, I see daily how housing and food insecurity impact health outcomes,” said Dr. Cosimo Storniolo, physician and civil surgeon. “Cuts to financial assistance undermine Oregon’s commitment to refugee families and create preventable harm.”
Faith leaders and service providers report a growing number of families seeking help with food, housing, legal services, and counseling as fear and instability increase.
“These policy shifts are not abstract,” said Rev. Rob Bashioum of Salem Alliance Church. “They are affecting real families in our neighborhoods.”
Why State Action Matters Now
Without coordinated support, advocates warn that years of successful integration could quickly unravel, leading to increased housing instability, disruptions in employment, and added strain on schools, healthcare systems, and local employers.
Refugees play an important role in Oregon’s workforce, contributing to industries ranging from manufacturing and hospitality to healthcare and logistics. Community and workforce leaders say maintaining stability for families is not only a humanitarian responsibility but also an economic one.
The Oregon Refugee Resettlement Collaborative is urging Oregon’s congressional delegation, Governor Tina Kotek, and state lawmakers to take immediate action during the 2026 legislative short session.
Specifically, the Collaborative is calling for a $3.5 million investment in stabilization funding to help refugee families facing sudden losses of food assistance and other essential supports. In addition to Catholic Charities, the Collaborative includes Salem for Refugees, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Lutheran Community Services and Catholic Community Services of Lane County.
Without timely intervention, the effects will not remain invisible. They will appear in eviction courts, health clinics, classrooms, and workplaces across the state.
Standing Alongside Oregon’s Newest Neighbors
At Catholic Charities of Oregon, we walk alongside refugees and immigrants every day as they rebuild their lives through legal pathways, securing housing, finding employment, learning English, and becoming part of the communities they now call home.
Oregon has long been a place where newcomers are welcomed and supported as they work toward stability and self-sufficiency. Meeting this moment together will help ensure families who followed the rules and were invited here can continue building safe and hopeful futures.
