The Rollout of the Voluntary Deportation Initiative Against New Americans

January 21 marked the start of a year of attacks against the refugee resettlement program that re-shaped the lives of New Americans. New Americans have varying immigration status’, from SIV holders, green cards holders, immigrants, asylees, humanitarian parolees, and refugees, to temporary protected status. I study how policy changes impacting the Refugee Resettlement program in 2025 have cumulatively affected the New American community in Boise, Idaho, and what the administrative and community responses have been to those effects. I argue that these attacks will have shrinkage effects on overall community strength and the capacity of Resettlement Agencies, with the overarching goals of encouraging New Americans to self-deport. Throughout research and interviews I came to understand that the impacts these communities are facing cannot be causally linked solely to Executive Order 14163, but rather a year of nationalistic immigration policies that impact a diverse group of people.