>> RISE, REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SELF EMPOWERMENT, WHAT IS IT STANDS FOR AND IT SERVES REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN THE CITY OF SYRACU WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY THROUGH THE REFUGEE PROCESSING AND HAS WENT THROUGH THE RIGOROU DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SCREENINGS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS BEFORE COMING TO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SO WE PROVIDE A LOT OF SERVICES FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME HERE, EMPLOYMENT BEING THE MAIN THING BECAUSE OUR ORGANIZATION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT BALL ROLLING ON DEFUNDING WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION SEES AS PROBLEMATIC NGOS WITH THE FEBRUARY 6 MEMO ORDERING A REVIEW OF ALL NGO FUNDING WITH THE STATED GOAL, TO STOP FUNDING NGOS THAT UNDERMINE THE NATIONAL INTEREST.

THE MEMO ALSO SAYS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF WHICH ARE ENGAGED IN ACTIONS THAT ACTIVELY UNDERMINE THE SECURITY, PROSPERITY AND SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS COMING IN AFTER THE JANUARY 20, IT HAS IMPACTED OUR ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF FUNDING BECAUSE OUR SETTLEMENT PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUSPENDED OR TERMINATED.

AS AN ORGANIZATION, CLOSE TO $DID MILLION-- $2 MILLION WAS WE LOST.

WE KNOW WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMMUNITY FOR-- WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER THAT MUCH.

WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS FOR US TO MAKE SURE THE FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOUSE AND PAY RENT AND PAY THEIR FOOD AND THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE.

WE ALSO LOST A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS.

VERY COMPETENT, SKILLED WELL TRAINED STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE VERY KIND AND GENERAL RUSS, NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THEIR TIME AND TALENT, BUT EVERYTHING.

>> HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DID RISE EMPLOY BEFORE JANUARY 20?

AND HOW MANY REMAIN?

>> WE HAD ABOUT 55 STAFF MEMBERS AND WE LOST 23 STAFF MEMBERS.

YES.

>> THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS CERTAINLY HAVE AFFECTED VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT, IN PARTICULAR, IT HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IN OUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM THIS YEAR.

>> IT'S GOING TO RESULT IF TWO ATTORNEYS BEING LAID OFF AND WE HAD HOPED TO HIRE AT LEAST ONE MORE LEGAL ASSISTANT IF NOT TWO MORE LEGAL ASSISTANTS.

I THINK THE PART THAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR OUR IMMIGRANT CLIENTS IS THAT THERE IS JUST SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW.

SO AND THAT'S EVEN TRUE FOR US GIVING ADVICE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, IF A CLIENT WAS IN AN ASYLUM APPLICATION PROCESS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, OH YOU KNOW, YOU DO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS OR DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND NOW SORT OF EVERYTHING HAS BEEN THROWN UP IN THE AIR.

IT JUST MAKES IT SO THAT ANYBODY WHO IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN HAS TO BE SO MUCH MORE MINDFUL ABOUT THEIR SPEECH THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT WAS PROTECTED , MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH ALL OF THE NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS AND POLICIES AS THEY COME OUT.

>> AS AN ORGANIZATION AND ALSO MYSELF AS A FORMER REFUGEE MYSELF, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOME MORAL OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE, AND WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

SO THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE TO RISE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE FAMILIES THAT CAME IN THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS, SO THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.

SO THEY CAME HERE AND NOW FOR US TO WALK AWAY FROM THEM, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THIS COMMUNITY REFUSED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN IN THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY.