The recent memorandum from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) ordering the “review and reinterview” of nearly 250,000 refugees already admitted under the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is unnecessary, harmful, and contrary to our country's humanitarian principles. As I pointed out last summer, the constant attacks on our refugee community betray our history as a nation. When our leaders denigrate entire communities, we must speak out. This action erodes trust, destabilizes families, and wastes resources that could strengthen communities. Refugees are already the most thoroughly vetted immigrants in the United States. Before they even arrive here, they go through one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the world. Multiple federal agencies—including USCIS, DHS, FBI, and CIA—conduct biometric checks, security screenings, and extensive interviews. This process often takes years and ensures that those admitted do not pose a threat. At JVS SoCal, we operate the Refugee Employment Program in Los Angeles County. Last year, we helped more than 4,500 refugees find jobs, mostly families with children. Our goal is to foster an environment where refugees can achieve self-sufficiency and stability through employment. Many of our clients arrive with advanced degrees and distinguished professional careers in their home countries. However, in the United States, their credentials are not always recognized, and experienced professionals must accept entry-level jobs simply to support their families. Re-interviewing refugees would divert scarce government resources from real priorities, while USCIS officers are already facing significant backlogs. Adding redundant interviews seems like a punitive act with no clear benefit. Refugees have lived peacefully in our communities for years: they work, pay taxes, and send their children to school. This policy is not about security; it is a political maneuver that destabilizes families and communities. For refugees,Resettlement represents the end of a long and painful journey. Ongoing crises—natural disasters, political instability, and violence—have made the U.S. refugee system an essential pathway to freedom. Forcing refugees to repeat the interview process reopens deep wounds for those who have already survived unimaginable experiences. Families who trusted this country and began to rebuild their lives now face fear and uncertainty, also affecting those who accompanied and welcomed them, whether through formal sponsorship or community support. At JVS SoCal, we see every day how stability drives successful integration. National data confirms this. According to analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau cited by the American Immigration Council: • After 20 years in the country, refugees achieve a median household income of $71,400, exceeding the national average.

• They contribute more than they receive: Over two decades, the average adult refugee pays $21,000 more in taxes than they receive in public assistance.

• Between 2005 and 2019, refugees and asylees generated a net fiscal benefit of $123.8 billion, including $581 billion in tax revenue.

• Among young refugees who arrived before the age of 14, high school and college graduation rates are on par with those of their U.S.-born peers.

These numbers are clear: Refugees are not a burden; they are a long-term asset to our economy and society.

The Refugee Act of 1980 enshrined America’s commitment to protect those fleeing persecution. The USCIS memorandum violates that promise and sends the world the message that our country does not honor its word.

Refugees are neighbors, colleagues, and contributors to our shared prosperity. Treating them as suspects, rather than survivors, betrays the ideals of freedom and compassion that define us.

Fostering fear and disruption through unilateral executive actions targeting those who have already passed the most rigorous vetting process in our immigration history does not create security; it creates chaos. It wastes resources, re-traumatizes vulnerable people, and jeopardizes the core promise of the United States. We urge policymakers to halt this action and reaffirm our nation’s commitment to those who “yearn to breathe free.” Our focus must be on helping refugees integrate and thrive, not forcing them to relive the trauma they came to overcome.

(*) Jeff Carr is CEO of JVS SoCal, a workforce development organization that operates the Los Angeles County Refugee Employment Program in partnership with the Department of Social Services.With decades of experience serving marginalized communities, he was the founder of the Bresee Foundation's Youth Program and served as Chief of Staff to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.