Judy Akers can only depend on her hopes and prayers at this moment in time. She’s the Executive Director of Della Lamb Community Services and waiting to see what the future holds for her staff.
Judy Akers is in the business of resettling refugees. Since President Trump’s executive order on January 27th, her line of work has been in jeopardy.
“If the ban stays in effect that means funding we would have gotten won't come in, and the expense to keep staff in place continue on without any dollars to support that,” Akers explained. “For an administrator like me, those are 2 a.m. nightmares."
Her staff resettles refugees. If the ban stays in place, there will be none to resettle.
Abdul Bakar is an employee who helps with resettlement efforts. He’s a refugee himself. He came to Kansas City 17 years ago.
Like Akers, he hopes that people just like him will be allowed to enter the country.
"The only hope that I have right now, that’s why I am working with a place that does not even pay a lot, is because I want to give the millions of poor people a reason to hope,” Bakar explained.
One family from Somali was set to arrive on January 2nd. Akers had to cancel that arrival.
As of last check on Tuesday evening, the family was finally in the air headed for Chicago. How and when the court rules will determine if the family is allowed to stay in the country.
The final ruling by the Appeals court may not be the final say. Whoever loses, will likely appeal it, and the decision could eventually go to the Supreme court.
“When I say we are relying on prayers and hopefulness, we truly are,” Akers said.
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