Few issues spark as much passion, but at the same time angst and frustration to Rep. Tim Kennedy as President Trump's policies that target immigrants and refugees.
In fact, Kennedy (D-Buffalo) is rather blunt.
"This president hates immigrants," Kennedy said. "He hates where they are from. He hates their diversity. He hates what they look like. He wants them gone."
It was against that backdrop that Kennedy hosted a Dec. 9 closed door listening session with several local agencies whose client base is comprised of largely immigrants and refugees.
Kennedy said he wanted "boots-on-the-ground" reports and recommendations so he could better formulate what federal legislation is needed to counteract Trump's draconian policies when it comes to refugees and immigrants.
"He (Trump) is ripping away hopes and dreams," Kennedy said.
The local impact is very real, warns Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, International Institute of Buffalo and the Refugee Partnership executive director.
Rizzo-Choi said not only are agencies dealing with severe cutbacks in federal funding but they are also dealing with clients whose fear of the U.S. government has been ratched up expomemtially because of ICE raids and other factors.
Consider: Just two years ago, the International Institute handled 508 resettlement cases for recent immigrants or refugees. Last year, it dropped to 208 resettlement cases and this year, just 50 resettlement cases.
Grace Karambizi, Buffalo Immigrant Leadership Team executive director, said she has clients who are avoiding daily activities out of fear of ICE or being detained and separated from their families.
"Children, and nobody, should be put through this," Karambizi said, herself a Rwanda refugee who arrived in Buffalo 21 years ago.
Kennedy said he will not back down on the refugee issue.
"It is a total disgrace that these agencies and these people are being attacked," Kennedy said.