Bahati Kanyamanza is a former refugee who was in an Ugandan refugee camp for 25 years before becoming a naturalized US citizen. Now, the current political climate and freezes/threats to US refugee programs is motivating figures like Kanyamanza to speak out against the injustices refugees are facing, and work to make it easier for them to find protection.
Bahati Kanyamanza is the global partnerships director at the International Refugee Assistance Project. At just 14-years-old, Kanyamanza fled war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and would spend over two decades in a refugee camp in Uganda before becoming a naturalized citizen in the United States.
Recently, Kanyamanza wrote for The Guardian about recently leaked documents from the Trump administration that allegedly revealed plans to gut the US refugee program and cap refugee resettlement to 7,500, a record low. The documents also suggested that the program is going to transform to favor white South African and European refugees over the “world’s most vulnerable people.”
For Kanyamanza, this issue is especially personal considering his own life story. He wrote: “I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and fled war at 14, spending nearly two decades in a refugee camp in Uganda before finally being resettled in the United States.
Here, I reunited with my family, built a new life, and became a citizen. My story is one of patience, resilience and gratitude for a country that gave me safety and the chance to rebuild my life and give back.”
“Despite these troubling political developments, I still love my country and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Historically, generosity, welcoming and caring for people fleeing violence, war and persecution have been America’s core values.”
“Refugees and immigrants like me have benefited from these values when we were welcomed into this nation, and passed them on to our children. Since 1975 a total of 3.7 million refugees have been resettled in the United States.
Refugees and immigrants are our neighbors and community members. We provide essential services in hospitals caring for people, in the military defending and protecting our nation, in restaurants, hotels and airports, and as workers on farms feeding the American people.
We build houses and construct roads and highways so we can all safely make it home to our families. These services make everyone’s daily lives better while driving our nation’s socio-economic development.
The current administration conveniently ignores this. This week’s reports unfortunately fit into the pattern we’ve seen as Donald Trump looks to fundamentally upend our refugee systems,” Kanyamanza wrote.
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump suspended the United States Refugee Admission Program (USRAP). This suspension left around 120,000 refugees who were conditionally approved to come to the US unsure and without information regarding their travels. The administration also froze funding to refugee agencies that provide essential services.
“In May, the Trump administration prioritized the admission of Afrikaners despite the suspension of USRAP, showing preference for one group instead of others, some of whom have been waiting a decade or more,” Kanyamanza explained.
“The administration alleges that part of its rationale for doing all of this is an unfounded claim that refugees place a burden on local communities. Yet, between 2005 and 2019, refugees contributed nearly $124 billion more in state and local revenue combined than they received in services.”
Between 2005 and 2019, refugees also paid $581 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
“A majority of Americans recognize the great effect of their neighbors and want to continue welcoming them, and more than 300 elected officials from across the country have vocalized bipartisan support to uphold and strengthen refugee resettlement.
Through USRAP, refugees like me are thoroughly vetted for years before we are allowed to travel to the US. USRAP is the most successful and celebrated refugee resettlement program, but now its future remains uncertain.
Despite broad public support across the country for traditional resettlement, the Trump administration appears to be deciding who is worthy of safety based on the color of their skin and their political views.
This is deeply alarming and betrays America’s deepest values. As someone who found hope and belonging here, I know that our greatness has never come from exclusion. It comes from compassion, courage and the belief that every person deserves a chance to rebuild their life in safety,” Kanyamanza stated.
Kanyamanza hopes that through his words, writing, and work, he can help amplify his story, message, and goal. He wants to hold elected officials accountable for “passing policies that support and care for all who call America home. This includes protecting refugees and immigrants who give so much to our communities and implementing humane policies to address immigration without harming people seeking safety,” he said.
“That is true leadership.”
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
