State-Level Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Louisiana 2025

Key Takeaways

• As of July 1, 2025, Louisiana limits Refugee Medical Assistance from one year to four months.
• Both main refugee resettlement agencies in Louisiana will close by October 2025.
• Refugees must apply quickly for medical help; nonprofits will provide limited post-October support.

Louisiana is facing major changes in how it supports refugees and asylum seekers in 2025. These changes affect medical help, cash support, and the way new arrivals get settled in the state. If you are a refugee, asylee, or someone helping them, it’s important to understand what’s changing, who is affected, and what steps to take next.

Summary of What Changed

Starting July 1, 2025, the Louisiana Department of Health reduced the time that refugees and asylees can get Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) from one year to just four months. This means that after four months, many new arrivals will lose access to state-funded medical help unless they qualify for Medicaid. This change happened quickly through an emergency rule, so it affects people right away.

Another big change is that both of Louisiana’s main refugee resettlement agencies, including Catholic Charities Baton Rouge, will close by October 2025. This will end the state’s formal refugee resettlement program. After October, there will be no state-run agency to help new refugees settle, find housing, or get job training. Instead, federal and nonprofit groups will have to step in, but their resources are limited.

Who Is Affected

These changes affect several groups:

• Refugees and Asylees: People who have recently arrived in Louisiana and have refugee or asylum status will have less time to get medical help through RMA and will lose access to state-run resettlement services.
• Cuban and Haitian Entrants, Certain Amerasians, Victims of Trafficking, Afghan and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees: These groups, who are also eligible for federal refugee benefits, will face the same limits on medical and cash assistance.
• Nonprofit and Community Groups: Organizations like the Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants (LORI) will see more people needing help, but may not have enough resources to serve everyone.
• Employers and Local Communities: With less support for newcomers, employers may find it harder to hire refugees, and communities may see more people struggling to find work, housing, and healthcare.

Effective Dates

• July 1, 2025: RMA coverage drops from one year to four months.
• October 2025: Both main resettlement agencies in Louisiana will close, ending state-run refugee resettlement services.

Required Actions for Refugees and Asylees

If you are a refugee or asylee in Louisiana, here’s what you need to do:

1. Check Your Eligibility: Find out if you qualify for federal or state benefits like Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA), Medicaid, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
2. Apply for Medical Help Quickly: If you are not eligible for Medicaid, apply for RMA as soon as you arrive. Remember, you now only have four months of coverage starting from July 1, 2025. You can apply through the Louisiana Department of Health. For more information and to apply, visit the Louisiana Department of Health’s Medicaid page.
3. Contact State or Local Agencies Before October 2025: Until the agencies close, reach out to the Louisiana Office for Refugees or local resettlement agencies for help with applications, cash assistance, and other services.
4. Seek Nonprofit Support: After October 2025, contact organizations like LORI for help with advocacy, community support, and integration services.
5. Stay Informed: Keep up with policy changes, as the situation is changing quickly. Check official sources and community organizations for updates.

Implications for Pending Applications

If you have already applied for RMA or RCA before July 1, 2025, you may still get the full year of medical coverage. However, if your application is pending or you apply after July 1, your RMA will only last four months. For cash assistance, you can still apply until the agencies close in October, but after that, state-run cash support will end.

Background and Context

For many years, Louisiana’s refugee support system was run by the Louisiana Office for Refugees, which worked with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). This office managed cash and medical help, job training, English classes, and social support for refugees across the state. The programs were paid for by federal money from ORR, which also set the rules for who could get help.

People eligible for these programs included refugees, asylees, certain people from Cuba, Haiti, and Vietnam, victims of trafficking, and some Afghan and Ukrainian parolees. The main benefits were:

• Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA): Money to help low-income refugees and other eligible people pay for basic needs.
• Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA): Health coverage for those who don’t qualify for Medicaid.
• Other State Programs: Some refugees could also get help from programs like FITAP, SSI, and CCAP if they met the rules.

Recent Policy Shifts

The biggest recent change is the emergency rule that cut RMA from one year to four months. This means new arrivals have much less time to get medical help before they must find other options. The closure of the main resettlement agencies by October 2025 is also a major shift, as these agencies provided most of the help with finding housing, jobs, and learning English.

Current State-Level Resources and Support (as of July 9, 2025)

Here’s what is still available:

• Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA): You can still apply through local agencies until they close in October 2025.
• Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA): Now only available for four months after arrival, unless you qualify for Medicaid.
• Other State Programs: FITAP, SSI, and CCAP are still available if you meet the rules.
• Employment and Integration Services: These were mostly provided by resettlement agencies, so they will end when the agencies close.
• Nonprofit and Community Support: Groups like LORI and some faith-based organizations may still offer some help, but they have fewer resources than the state agencies.

Key Stakeholders and Contact Information

If you need help, here are some important contacts:

• Kimberly Sullivan, JD: Bureau of Health Services Financing, P.O. Box 91030, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9030
• Amber Hebert: State Refugee Program, (225) 376-6807
• Michael Lacassagne: State Refugee Program, (504) 568-5015
• State Refugee Medical Assistance Manager: (225) 502-4149

Step-by-Step Procedures for Accessing Support

1. Determine Eligibility
   • Check if you are a refugee, asylee, or another eligible group.
   • Review the rules for each program (RCA, RMA, FITAP, SSI, CCAP).
2. Contact State or Local Agencies
   • Until October 2025, reach out to the Louisiana Office for Refugees or local resettlement agencies for help with applications.
3. Apply for Medical Assistance
   • Submit your RMA application through the Louisiana Department of Health.
   • Remember, RMA now only lasts four months unless you qualify for Medicaid.
4. Seek Nonprofit Support
   • After the agencies close, contact LORI or other community groups for help with integration and support.
5. Monitor Policy Changes
   • Stay updated on any new changes by checking official websites and community organizations.

Practical Implications and Expert Analysis

Immediate Effects

• Reduced Medical Coverage: With RMA now limited to four months, many refugees and asylees will lose health coverage soon after arriving. This could lead to more people using emergency rooms or going without needed care.
• Loss of Case Management: Without resettlement agencies, new arrivals will have a harder time finding housing, jobs, and learning English. This makes it more difficult to become self-sufficient.
• Increased Burden on Nonprofits: Groups like LORI will have to help more people, but they may not have enough staff or money to meet the need.

Long-Term Outlook

• Integration Challenges: Without formal support, refugees and asylees may have trouble finding work, stable housing, and healthcare. This could lead to more poverty and social problems.
• Policy Uncertainty: The quick cuts to state support and agency closures show that there is a lot of uncertainty about the future. There is no clear plan for bringing back these services.
• Advocacy Efforts: Groups like LORI are working to protect immigrant rights and push for better policies, but they face big challenges.

Multiple Perspectives

• State Officials: They say these changes are needed to keep the state budget under control and match federal funding limits.
• Nonprofit Leaders: They warn that cutting support will hurt both refugees and the wider community, and that helping newcomers is good for the economy.
• Advocates: They are asking the federal government to provide more money and better coordination to keep resettlement services going.

Future Developments and Anticipated Changes

• Resettlement Agency Closure: By October 2025, there will be no formal agencies left in Louisiana to help refugees settle.
• Potential Federal Intervention: Some advocates hope the federal government will step in to fill the gap, but nothing is certain yet.
• Community-Based Solutions: Nonprofits and faith groups may try to do more, but they can’t replace the resources and reach of state agencies.

Official Resources and Additional Information

• Louisiana Department of Health: For RMA applications and information. Visit the official Medicaid page.
• Louisiana Office for Refugees: For cash and integration help until October 2025.
• Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants (LORI): For advocacy and community support.
• Refugee Welcome Collective: For state-specific resources and contacts.

Summary Table: Key State-Level Support (July 2025)

Conclusion and Next Steps

As of July 9, 2025, Louisiana is making big cuts to the support it gives refugees and asylum seekers. The Refugee Medical Assistance program now only covers four months, and both main resettlement agencies will close by October. This means new arrivals will have less help finding housing, jobs, and healthcare. Nonprofits like LORI will try to help, but they have limited resources.

If you are a refugee or asylee in Louisiana, act quickly to apply for medical and cash assistance before the deadlines. After October, look to community groups for help, and keep checking for updates as the situation may change again. For more information, visit the Louisiana Department of Health’s Medicaid page.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these changes reflect a wider trend of shrinking state support for refugees, with more responsibility falling on federal programs and local nonprofits. Advocates are urging the federal government to step in, but for now, refugees and asylees in Louisiana must rely on a shrinking safety net and the support of their communities.

Actionable Takeaways

• Apply for Refugee Medical Assistance and Medicaid as soon as possible.
• Contact the Louisiana Office for Refugees or local agencies before October 2025 for help with cash assistance and other services.
• After October, reach out to nonprofits like LORI for support.
• Stay informed about policy changes by checking official sources and community organizations.
• If you are helping refugees, share this information and help them apply for benefits quickly.

By understanding these changes and acting quickly, refugees and asylees in Louisiana can make the most of the support that is still available, even as the state’s programs are reduced.

Learn Today

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) → State-funded health coverage for refugees ineligible for Medicaid, now limited to four months.
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) → Financial support for low-income refugees to cover basic living expenses and aid integration.
Medicaid → Federal and state program providing health coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families.
Resettlement Agencies → Organizations that help refugees settle by providing housing, job training, and social support services.
Louisiana Department of Health → State agency responsible for administering health programs, including RMA and Medicaid.

This Article in a Nutshell

Louisiana drastically reduces refugee medical coverage to four months from July 2025 and will close resettlement agencies by October. Refugees must act quickly to access medical and cash assistance before cuts take effect. Nonprofits will struggle to meet increased needs after state programs end, impacting integration services.
— By VisaVerge.com