MART Director Resigns Due to Funding Freezes

Ana Mendonca, executive director of the Manhattan Area Resettlement Team (MART), is resigning due to federal funding freezes affecting refugee assistance. Her last day is Friday, February 7th. Program manager Virginia Rodriguez will serve as interim director.

Mendonca’s decision follows President Donald Trump’s executive order halting new refugee arrivals and suspending grant funding, impacting over 26,000 refugees and special immigrant visa recipients. Despite stepping down, she will continue volunteering to help refugees resettle.

MART, founded in 2021 by U.S. Army veterans Fatima Jaghoori and Aaron Estabrook, has assisted over 200 refugees, primarily from Afghanistan. However, the organization now faces uncertainty as it will not receive new refugees for at least three months. Estabrook remains committed to the mission and plans to hire a development director to help with fundraising.

Manhattan city commissioner and MART volunteer Susan Adamchak urged city leaders to explore ways to support immigrant families while complying with the executive order. Though no specific plans were proposed, discussions about local refugee support continue.

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