Futures interrupted: urban refugee perspectives on the 2025 resettlement suspension in Nairobi

In January 2025, United States President Donald Trump suspended the US Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP). This resulted in an immediate halt to refugee resettlement to the US, causing uncertainty and distress for thousands of refugees who had prepared to travel. In this working paper, Sarah Kide analyses the experiences of urban refugees in Nairobi whose resettlement processes were halted due to the USRAP suspension. She finds that the consequences of the suspension were dire for these refugees: some were left without any valid form of identification, and many had no resources to fall back on in Kenya, where socio-economic integration remains challenging despite ongoing efforts led by the government of Kenya. Beyond the material impact, the suspension of the USRAP caused emotional and psychological distress for those affected, yet little support has been offered.