Refugee Resettlement Cuts Hurt MI Laundry

Citing security concerns, the administration of President Donald Trump has dramatically reduced refugee resettlement efforts in states such as Michigan, according to news reports. These actions have led to funding cuts for nonprofit groups that help immigrants acclimate to life in the U.S. At the same time, the lower numbers of refugees have hurt recruiting efforts by businesses like Reino Linen in Brownstown Township, a Detroit suburb, that have hired immigrant labor to help operate their healthcare laundry there.

An article in Crain’s Detroit Business notes that refugee resettlement dropped 40% in 2017 to 2,536 people. Roughly half of that number settled in Southeast Michigan, where they could consider applying for jobs at Reino Linen, which processes roughly 50 million lbs. per year.

So far in 2018, only 32 of a total of 289 refugees have settled in the region. Mary Onifer, an HR specialist with Reino Linen, said that in the past the company has partnered successfully with nonprofit groups to hire refugee immigrants seeking employment in the area. “All of the employees they sent us were ready to work … and had the right documents,” she said, noting that those papers included drivers’ licenses and authorization-to-work cards. Reino Linen’s business is currently in growth mode, and the opportunity to employ more refugees is there, but only if those prospects keep coming to Michigan.

Currently, about 25%-30% of Reino Linen’s 255 employees are refugees, and they are among the company’s most dedicated staff members, Onifer said. Click here for details.