Reynoldsburg City Council on June 9 adopted a proclamation recognizing June 20, 2025, as World Refugee Day and heard extended testimony from resettlement and immigrant-serving organizations about recent federal policy changes and local needs.

Council Member Pacquiao read the proclamation and invited community leaders to speak. Angie Plummer, executive director of Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS), described the national policy shifts and urged continued local support: "While it is tragic that the federal government has halted most everyone but white South Africans from coming to the U.S. through the U.S. resettlement program... Recognize the value refugees bring to us economically, as taxpayers, workers, business owners, and homeowners," Plummer said.

Representatives from local organizations detailed front-line impacts. Lehi Sileshi Aspau, president and CEO of Ethiopian Tiwahino Social Services (ETSS), said travel bans this year had affected many countries and that the agency has expanded to serve refugees from more than 100 countries. "...last week we have heard that over 19 countries has been banned, travel banned, not to come to the United States. And out of the 19, 10 of them are from African countries. So it's very worrisome," Aspau said.

Tatiana Buzhanovsky, described as a resettlement program director with ETSS, urged the community to attend a local World Refugee Day celebration and described the emotional toll of recent pauses or restrictions in federal resettlement supports: "It is very hard to tell a single mother who just came 5 days prior to the ban that we will no longer be able to serve her because there was stop to work order... No matter the challenges, our work does continue."

Other speakers included Dilly Adhikari of the Radha Krishna Temple, who noted the temple's role as a cultural hub for newcomers, and Sarah Mosier of the International Rescue Committee, who said national advocacy continues and urged local volunteerism and services to help families already in Central Ohio.

The proclamation emphasizes Reynoldsburg's history of welcoming refugees and encourages residents to learn about and support local resettlement. Tatiana Buzhanovsky invited the public to a World Refugee Day event on June 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Y on Sandalwood, where organizers said there will be international food, music and refugee stories.

Why it matters: speakers described immediate programmatic impacts from federal policy shifts and asked residents and local institutions to maintain local supports, including school enrollment assistance, volunteer services and advocacy.

Council proceeded with the proclamation during the meeting; the item was offered by Council Member Pacquiao and seconded on the record, and the council approved the proclamation by voice vote during the meeting.