Jewish Family Service (JFS), along with our resettlement partners at HIAS, are saddened and disappointed by the decision by the U.S. State Department to issue a stop-work order cutting off vital support to families who have already resettled in the United States and the recent executive order suspending any new arrivals of refugees. These developments will have a significant impact on JFS’ Yana Vishnitsky Refugee Resettlement program, and refugees from around the world who are building a new life in Colorado and reliant on our services for their well-being. JFS resettled 137 individuals between October 15, 2024, and January 15, 2025, a significant increase compared to the typical 60 individuals we would generally resettle during this period.

JFS remains focused on protecting and fulfilling our deeply held Jewish values of making the world a better place, welcoming the stranger, and the obligation to act justly toward people in need. JFS and our dedicated staff and volunteers are committed to helping the clients we have welcomed settle into their new lives in Colorado—and we are ready to receive additional refugees as soon as we are permitted.

Now, more than ever, it is critical that our work proceeds and that our focus remains on assisting our newly resettled neighbors with food, housing, and employment support as they adjust to their new lives.  Please consider donating to the Yana Vishnitsky Refugee Resettlement program to help cover this funding gap created by this policy change. Our priorities remain the same, and along with our trusted partners, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and stand by our Jewish values.