Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle (CCTXP) announced on Monday the immediate and indefinite suspension of its Refugee Resettlement Program due to a critical loss of funding, affecting both staff and services. The non-profit organization, which has been a pillar of support for refugees since the mid-1970s, revealed that 26 employees would be laid off as a direct result of the funding shortfall.
In a statement released by CCTXP, officials cited “circumstances beyond its control” as the driving force behind this difficult decision. The organization emphasized its commitment to helping legally authorized refugees, with the U.S. State Department having referred individuals to Catholic Charities for resettlement assistance for decades. Despite the challenging circumstances, Catholic Charities expressed deep gratitude to the organizations and individuals who have supported the program over the past 50 years.
“We are cognizant of the negative impact this change will have on the legal aliens associated with the program,” the statement read. “These legal aliens were referred to us by the U.S. State Department. We ask our community partners to assist our team and our clients during this difficult time of transition.”
The suspension comes in the wake of a funding freeze stemming from former President Donald Trump's January 2025 decision to halt the U.S. refugee admissions program, a move that has left many resettlement organizations across the country scrambling for resources. Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Program, which has been an integral part of the Amarillo community, has particularly been affected by this nationwide change. Amarillo is home to one of the highest per capita refugee populations in the state of Texas, adding further complexity to the local impact of this suspension.
Despite the pause in its refugee services, Catholic Charities reassured the public that other vital programs would continue without disruption. These include the InterFaith Hunger Project, Immigration Legal Services, and Joseph’s Project (A Pregnancy Resource Center). To ensure continued support for these programs, some of the refugee resettlement staff will be reassigned to assist in these ongoing services.
“This is a difficult time for all involved,” the organization continued. “We remain committed to serving those in need in our community through other programs, and we appreciate the understanding and support of our partners during this transition.”
Catholic Charities remains hopeful that future developments may allow them to reinstate the Refugee Resettlement Program, but for now, the indefinite pause stands as they navigate through the current challenges posed by a reduction in federal funding.
For those affected by the pause, Catholic Charities urged continued collaboration with local community partners to help meet the needs of refugees and other vulnerable populations in the area.
As legal challenges to the refugee suspension continue in federal court, many resettlement organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, are fighting for a reinstatement of the program. The outcome of these efforts could have a significant impact on the future of resettlement services, not only in Amarillo but across the nation.
