Funding Cuts and Immigration Crackdown Endanger Oregon’s Afghan Refugee Program

(OREGON) Oregon’s Afghan refugee network is bracing for a sharp drop in federal support even as the state moves to patch holes in safety-net programs. In July 2025, a new federal budget took effect that shifts more costs to states and reduces federal help for core benefits used by newcomers. State officials, resettlement agencies, and Afghan families say the changes come at the same time that Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan has been terminated, leaving many residents in Oregon at risk of losing work authorization and protection from deportation. The clash of federal funding cuts and stricter policy limits has created a crisis window for the Afghan community and the groups that serve them.

The immediate concern centers on cuts to Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance. As of May 5, 2025, newly eligible refugees in Oregon can receive those benefits for only 4 months, down from up to a year in previous years. For single adults and childless couples, the shorter runway means less time to find stable jobs, secure housing, and enroll in longer-term programs. Families with children may still qualify for TANF, but caseworkers warn the new limit will leave many people without a basic cushion during the hardest phase of resettlement.

Just as important is the loss of immigration protections for Afghans who had relied on TPS. On May 13, 2025, the federal government confirmed the termination of TPS for Afghanistan effective July 14, 2025. That change removes protection from deportation and work authorization for more than 11,000 people nationwide, including many in Oregon. Local legal aid groups report an immediate spike in calls from Afghans trying to figure out how to keep jobs, renew leases, and remain with their families without falling out of status. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the TPS decision has set off urgent case reviews for Afghans who entered through humanitarian parole, are waiting on asylum hearings, or are pursuing Special Immigrant Visas linked to service alongside U.S. forces.

The federal budget shift also affects SNAP and Medicaid (the Oregon Health Plan). Refugees, including Afghans, often rely on these programs in the first months after arrival. With more cost responsibility passed to states, service providers expect tighter eligibility checks and longer processing times. Community clinics and culturally specific nonprofits say the ripple effects will hit health access, mental health support, and prenatal care—areas where consistent coverage is vital.

State response and local capacity

Oregon leaders moved to blunt the blow. In July 2025, lawmakers passed the 2025–27 budget with a targeted, one-time $2 million increase for grants to refugee resettlement agencies. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) also saw a 23% overall budget increase aimed at infrastructure and client safety.

State officials have been candid: the extra dollars help, but they likely won’t fully offset federal shortfalls. Governor Tina Kotek and ODHS leadership have said the state will protect core services where possible and maintain Oregon’s status as a sanctuary state, which limits local law enforcement from carrying out federal immigration actions. That stance gives some breathing room to families who fear sudden detention or transfer when they report crimes, seek help, or visit public offices.

In May 2025, Oregon expanded higher education access by exempting asylum seekers enrolled in public universities from non-resident tuition and fees. That change gives Afghan students a clearer path to continue studies even if their immigration status shifts. For parents working day jobs and evenings in English classes, college access for their children is a strong sign that the state wants to keep long-term integration on track.

Still, resettlement agencies say their margins are thin. Catholic Charities of Oregon, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Catholic Community Services of Lane County, Salem for Refugees, and Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees report that housing support, employment coaching, school enrollment help, and legal referrals are harder to sustain when federal reimbursements fall.

• Agencies typically provide 90 days of initial help after arrival, then keep working with clients for up to 60 months, with extended case management available for 24 months within that window.
• With shorter cash and medical assistance periods, staff must compress job placement, skills training, and health screenings into a tighter timeline.

ODHS urges newcomers and sponsors to stay in close contact with case managers and to apply for mainstream programs as soon as they qualify. Refugees can be referred through resettlement agencies or community-based organizations to ODHS for enrollment. Official resources and program descriptions are posted on the ODHS Refugee Services page at Oregon Department of Human Services – Refugee Services. The department is also tracking the federal changes and updating guidance to counties and partners.

What the changes mean for Afghan families

For Afghans who arrived after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the past year was already difficult. Many came on humanitarian parole or are still waiting for asylum interviews, while others are applying for Special Immigrant Visas based on their work with U.S. forces. Now, the end of TPS removes a layer of protection that helped people stay in their jobs and plan for school and housing.

Families describe a wave of new worries:

• How to keep a paycheck if work cards lapse.
• Whether a landlord will renew a lease.
• What happens if the primary earner is detained during traffic stops.
• Gaps in health coverage for children who need checkups or counseling after a traumatic journey.

Resettlement leaders say the financial pressure is immediate. With assistance capped at 4 months, a single adult who arrives in September will likely be on their own by January—right after the holidays and during the coldest months. Jobs in warehousing, food processing, and hospitality are available, but transportation, childcare, and English classes can delay steady income. Without longer support, people may move from friends’ couches to motels and back again, disrupting job searches and school attendance.

Advocacy organizations, including national groups like USCRI, have condemned the end of Afghan TPS as a break with America’s promise to those who aided U.S. efforts. State lawmakers and ODHS leadership have echoed concerns, arguing that rolling back protections while trimming supports puts added strain on local safety nets. Employers who hired Afghan workers now face uncertainty about staff turnover and I-9 reverification if workers lose employment authorization. That can hit small businesses in tight labor markets where on-the-job training is common.

At the federal level, the Biden administration set the annual refugee admissions ceiling at 125,000 for FY 2025. But resettlement agencies say arrivals and funding have not matched community needs, especially for Afghans dealing with layered legal issues. Oregon’s experience reflects a national pattern: high demand, inconsistent federal reimbursements, and shifting rules that complicate planning for families and service providers.

How the process looks now in Oregon

In practical terms, here’s how resettlement and supports work today under the new constraints:

1. Upon arrival, a sponsor agency meets the refugee at the airport and provides 90 days of core help, including enrollment in cash, food, and medical benefits, and connection to housing and school.
2. ODHS or a resettlement/community-based partner processes benefit applications. For people arriving after May 5, 2025, Refugee Cash and Refugee Medical are limited to 4 months.
3. Families with children may apply for TANF if eligible, while others are referred to job services, English classes, and community clinics. Case management can run up to 60 months, with extended support available within that period.
4. After initial refugee-specific aid ends, people may move to regular programs such as SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan) if they qualify. Each program has its own rules and paperwork, which case managers help explain.

Local leaders say they will keep pressing Washington, D.C., for changes. Oregon officials and advocacy groups are lobbying to restore or extend Afghan TPS and to increase federal funding for refugee programs. If that fails, service gaps could widen in late 2025 and into 2026. Lawmakers in Salem may consider emergency funds or additional policy fixes in the next session if conditions worsen.

Recommended immediate steps for families

For now, families are advised to:

• Keep all immigration documents current and stored safely. If TPS was the only protection, speak with a qualified legal provider about other options.
• Check benefit timelines with ODHS and ask about transitions to SNAP, TANF, or the Oregon Health Plan before the 4-month clock runs out.
• Talk to employers early about work authorization concerns to avoid sudden job loss.
• Stay in touch with resettlement case managers, who can help with housing leads, training programs, and referrals to legal aid.

Resettlement workers stress that small adjustments can help. A bus pass can save transit time and expand job options. A low-cost internet plan can support English learning and online job searches. Even modest rent support can keep a family in place long enough for steady work to take root. Faith groups and civic clubs have stepped up with donations, but agencies say predictable funding is necessary to keep trained staff in place.

Oregon’s stance as a sanctuary state still matters. While it doesn’t change federal law, it sets rules for local policing and public services that reduce fear for families going to school, clinics, or court. That helps Afghan parents keep kids in class and get care when needed. It also helps victims report crime.

The months ahead will test whether state funds and local ingenuity can cover the gap left by federal funding cuts and the loss of TPS. With winter approaching and benefit timelines shrinking, the most vulnerable newcomers may face the hardest choices. State leaders insist they’re committed to keeping doors open. Resettlement agencies say they’ll stretch every dollar. Afghan families, many of whom worked alongside U.S. forces and rebuilt their lives in Oregon, are hoping that commitment holds.

“Stability takes time—and time is what the new rules have shortened.”