President Donald Trump declared an indefinite pause on new refugee admissions to the U.S. on his first day in office in January. Shortly after, he froze federal funding for resettlement agencies that provide services to refugees in the U.S. The decisions are part of a broader crackdown on immigration that’s led to arrests and deportations across the country.

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, or IRCO, provides education, health, employment and other support services to refugee and immigrant communities in Oregon.

Executive Director Lee Po Cha joins us to talk about what it’s like to do that work in the current political climate.

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/08/28/think-out-loud-irco-oregon-refugees-immigrants-help/