October 1, 2025

Contact: Paige Censale, pcensale@haitianbridge.org

SAN DIEGO, CA —-The Haitian Bridge Alliance is gravely concerned about the impact of the government shutdown on immigrant communities. Congress’s inability to agree on a short-term spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), to bridge funding through fiscal year 2026 (which started October 1). Under the Constitution, all federal spending must be authorized by Congress, and without it, agencies can’t legally spend money on non-essential activities due to the Antideficiency Act

A shutdown of even a few days could delay asylum hearings, stall visa and work permit applications, and slow the already overwhelming immigration court backlog. These disruptions will leave families in limbo, extend detention periods, and heighten uncertainty for Haitians and other vulnerable populations.

“Every shutdown ripples outward to those least able to withstand the consequences,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Immigrants cannot afford more delayed access to justice, reunification with loved ones, or the protections they desperately need. We call on leaders to prioritize the dignity and humanity of those caught in the middle.”

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ABOUT HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as “The Bridge”, is a grassroots community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies, foreign policy, and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA also seeks to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and build solidarity and a collective movement toward policy change. Anpil men chay pa lou (“Many hands make the load light”).
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