March 21, 2019
For decades, the State Department has funded interest-free travel loans to refugees who cannot afford the cost of relocating here. Six months after their arrival, borrowers are expected to start repaying the loans to one of nine private nonprofits, known as resettlement agencies, who keep a portion of the payments. Some advocates think they should not be taking money from those they are trying to help.
AAFSC’s New Immigrants and Refugees Fund was recently featured in The New York Times, highlighting our support to newly-arrived immigrants and refugees struggling with this travel debt. Through this program, we offer funding to families who are saddled with over $5,000 of debt to the International Office of Migration during an already stressful time.
