Akron’s 110-year-old refugee agency is walking away from millions in federal funding rather than accept rules it says would force it to abandon families it has served for decades. The decision leaves the International Institute of Akron facing staff cuts and a $250,000 local fundraising push, turning a national immigration fight into a very local budget problem.
The institute told News 5 Cleveland that new federal funding rules would exclude populations it has historically served, including families fleeing war and persecution. Liv Randall said refugee resettlement “has not moved forward since January of 2025,” while the organization continues providing employment help, SNAP and Medicaid assistance, English classes and other social services for people already in Akron.
Signal Akron reported that the institute resettled 247 refugees in the Akron area in 2024, its last reported year before the new policy environment took hold. The outlet also reported that the organization now has roughly 25 to 30 employees, down from as many as 43 in 2024.
Why The Funding Fight Reached Akron
In a July 21 appeal, the International Institute of Akron said it had spent the past 18 mon bths shifting toward support for refugees and immigrants already living in the city. The nonprofit said accepting its remaining federal funding would require participation in resettlement efforts that conflict with its mission and values.
The broader policy shift began with a January 20, 2025 White House order that suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program effective January 27, while allowing narrow case-by-case exceptions. That helps explain why Akron’s resettlement pipeline has largely dried up even as local families still need help with housing, food, health care, legal questions and work.
Akron Leaders Back The Nonprofit
Mayor Shammas Malik told News 5 Cleveland, “We have their back,” calling the International Institute a pillar of the community and saying he trusted its board to make the decision. U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes also voiced support, saying the funding change hurts workers, families and the broader community.
News 5 reported that about 70% of the organization’s programs had been federally funded and that the loss will result in roughly a 15% staff reduction. The institute is seeking to raise $250,000, while community donations surpassed $80,000 during the first week after its appeal gained attention online.
The institute’s official website says it was founded in 1916 and provides immigration legal services, employment support, education, interpretation, social services and refugee resettlement assistance. That broad menu matters in Akron, where the agency’s work extends beyond welcoming new arrivals to helping established families navigate the everyday bureaucracy of building a life.
For now, the International Institute says it will remain open and keep adapting, but its financial math has changed dramatically. As the organization put it in its community appeal, the future of refugee and immigrant support in Akron may now depend less on federal contracts and more on whether local residents decide this work is worth carrying themselves.
