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HMIR staff meet for strategic planning in Riverside, February 2025; the organization now faces funding challenges after January's USRAP suspension. (Courtesy Human Migration Institute Riverside)
When Deivy, a 34-year-old Venezuelan refugee, arrived in Houston last September with valid documentation, he expected to join his pregnant wife and 11-year-old son in Riverside. Instead, he was detained, pressured to withdraw his application, and ultimately deported to Peru—despite following every legal procedure for refugee resettlement. His family remains in Riverside without him.
This is one of many cases handled by the Human Migration Institute Riverside (HMIR), a local chapter of a national non-profit organization that services the refugee community. HMIR assists in placing and assimilating individuals and families granted refugee status under the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 1967 Protocols. It operates under the United States Refugee Assistance Program (USRAP), a partnership between public and non-profit sector institutions that is primarily government-funded and privately administered. He applied for and was granted refugee status under USRAP after following all prescribed steps to bring his family to Riverside. Approved by U.N. and U.S. agencies, they arrived in Houston on September 19, 2024. However, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained Deivy over pre-existing tattoos. No details of the tattoos were available, but they had been disclosed early in the vetting process, and officials were aware of the tattoos long before he arrived in the United States.
Despite having valid documents, he was pressured to withdraw his application under threat of indefinite detention, a tactic known to be used by Houston CBP. He was deported to Peru, separating him from his pregnant wife and 11-year-old son, who are now in Riverside.
HMIR is fighting for him, but the January 2025 executive order suspending USRAP has drastically reduced his chances of timely reunification. This case highlights the bureaucratic challenges and policy challenges that HMIR faces in attempting to assist legal migrants in the Riverside area.
"Deivy and his family followed all the legal steps outlined by the U.S. government and international agencies, passed background checks, and arrived with proper documentation. Despite their compliance, they were treated unfairly and separated," said HMIR Resettlement Director Sedef Altug. "Now, more than ever, we need the community's support. We ask for your help in raising awareness about Deivy's case and others like it. Advocate for fair and transparent refugee policies, and support organizations that provide legal assistance and resettlement services."
The executive order has significantly strained HMIR's finances. The organization relies on funding tied to the resettlement of refugees, including government grants and private donations. With the suspension of the USRAP, the funding has ceased. HMIR must now grapple with the challenge of maintaining its existing programs and staff while facing a shrinking budget.
The executive order ending USRAP and the HMIR revenue stream will be reviewed within 90 days of its signing. It is not clear what the result of the review will be, but the current political climate regarding immigration leads many to believe that Deivy and many like him are fighting an uphill battle. HMIR is still doing what it can to assist refugees here with placement and assimilation. It relies on community donations of goods and money, but that path is not sustainable.
The revocation of Executive Order 14013, which aimed to enhance refugee resettlement, further underscores the policy shift. The policy change represents a significant shift in refugee admissions priorities. HMIR, which had previously operated within a framework focused on resettlement and integration, must now adapt to new administrative guidelines.
For refugees seeking assistance or residents interested in supporting local resettlement efforts, HMIR provides resources and volunteer opportunities in the Riverside area. Information on services and donation options is available at hmir.org. Constituents can share their perspectives on USRAP with U.S. House Representative Mark Takano's office, which is participating in ongoing policy discussions regarding the program's future.
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