Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine

The directive, issued on Friday, said the federal government will no longer reimburse resettlement agencies for certain basic needs including housing and food.

An executive order issued earlier this week put the decades-old program on ice for at least 90 days.

The state's three resettlement agencies resettled nearly 700 people through the federal refugee admissions program during the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30.

A statewide commemoration brought together synagogues and community centers in person and on Zoom.