Refugees who were slated to travel to the United States after a years-long and often cumbersome process have had their flights canceled, according to a State Department memo to resettlement partners obtained by CNN.
Approximately 10,000 refugees had travel booked that is now canceled, according to a source familiar with the data.
The memo comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending refugee admissions and marks another example of the swift impact his actions are already having.
The cancellations could be particularly troubling for refugees whose medical exams or security checks, for example, are on the cusp of expiring.
The memo also states that case processing is suspended, effectively shuttering the program.
Special Immigrant Visa holders, which includes those who worked for the US abroad, are exempt. They can travel to the United States, according to the memo. Those refugees who are already in the United States can also continue to receive services.
Related Post
CNN reached out to the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration for comment.
Trump’s executive order, signed Monday, stated that the United States was unable to absorb the influx of migrants over the recent years in addition to refugees, giving way to the administration suspending the US refugee admissions program “until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.”
The suspension was to take effect on January 27, according to the order. The memo implies that it takes effect immediately.
The headline and post have been updated to reflect the number of refugees affected.
