Catholic agency in Fort Worth relinquishes federal role, ceasing Texas refugee resettlement support.
Kickin' it to the Curb: Catholic Charities Fort Worth Abandoning Refugee Resettlement Role
Catholic Charities Fort Worth is bidin' adieu to its leadership of refugee resettlement in the grand ol' state of Texas, according to a declared statement from President and CEO, Michael Iglio, on June 2, 20XX.
Since 2021, this Fort Worth-based nonprofit had the honor of helming the Texas Office for Refugees, the statewide agency delegated by the federal government to supervise refugee resettlement. Way back in 2016, Texas skedaddled from the nation's refugee resettlement program, shoving the responsibilities onto non-profits to manage federal refugee funds bucketed their way.
Fast forward to October 1, 2025, the charity will put an end to its fervor as the Replacement Designee for the State of Texas under the Texas Office for Refugees, says Iglio. In 2023, over 5,000 refugees decided to call Texas their brand-new home, giving Texas the coveted top spot for refugee resettlement, as per a November 2024 report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Earlier in 2025, the charity joined suit with other aid groups to take aim at the federal government following Trump's announcement and subsequent reversal of a federal funding halt in January. Their beef? The government had called a time-out on financial support for the refugee resettlement program, freezing the allocated grants, and Catholic Charities Fort Worth believed those actions were unlawful. While many other organizations found their funds, the charity's pleas fell on deaf ears. U.S. attorneys eventually admitted that only the grant in Texas remained suspended, administered by Catholic Charities Fort Worth.
According to court documents, the U.S. government flagged Catholic Charities for a "program integrity review" and froze its funding to probe whether the organization billed for activities outside the scope of its grants and if the grants provided payment for activities that surpassed the requirements of the Refugee Act of 1980.
Politics and Catholic Charities have been like hot cakes, baking up quite the drama. The non-profit has saddled up in the midst of religious clashes over faith-based groups that collaborate with refugees or migrants. Primarily, conservative activists allege the organization incentivizes illegal immigration and sometimes accuse faith groups of side-stepping the law or working with drug cartels.
Tarrant County Republican Party Chair, Bo French, has taken to the mic to spew his vocal disapproval, frequently accusing the organization of being a "willing accomplice" in the rise of immigrants without legal status.
In a Q&A document released by Catholic Charities Fort Worth and the Texas Office for Refugees in 2024, the organization put the record straight: no support, promotion, or facilitation of illegal border crossings. Instead, they assist only eligible clients who have been legally admitted into the U.S.
Following a series of legal back-and-forths, the charity received its $47 million in funds on March 17, 20XX. Before that, the charity was on the verge of a world-class layoff, slashing 169 positions, according to a submission to the Texas Workforce Commission. Affiliates in Dallas, Houston, and Galveston also put their staff on notice, announcing a series of layoffs since the January executive order hitting the refugee resettlement funding.
Looking ahead, the nonprofit aims to utilize its leadership and resources locally within the Diocese of Fort Worth and its long-standing Refugee Services department, enabling Iglio to refocus with glee.
"Their work has transformed lives and strengthened communities," Iglio declared. Greene, a Report for America corps member covering faith for the Fort Worth Report, handled the story's gutsy coverage.
- The withdrawal of Catholic Charities Fort Worth from the refugee resettlement role in Texas has sparked a debate in the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation, particularly concerning general-news regarding immigration.
- As the Replacement Designee for the State of Texas under the Texas Office for Refugees, Catholic Charities Fort Worth has been embroiled in controversies, including allegations of working outside the scope of refugee policy and legislation by conservative activists.
- Despite the political disputes and funding uncertainties, Catholic Charities Fort Worth aims to redirect its focus to local impact within the Diocese of Fort Worth, emphasizing its ongoing Refugee Services department that continues to influence policy-and-legislation and shape general-news on immigration.
