Judge blocks Trump’s pause on refugee admissions 

CNA Staff, Feb 26, 2025 / 14:35 pm (CNA).

A federal judge in Seattle blocked the Trump administration’s suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions program on Tuesday.

In a preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead ordered the Trump administration to restore the program and funding to refugee aid programs amid a lawsuit alleging that the freeze was unlawful.

The judge said it was likely that the Trump administration had exceeded its authority in halting the long-standing program, which was established by Congress in 1980.

“The president has substantial discretion … to suspend refugee admissions,” Whitehead said, according to the Associated Press. “But that authority is not limitless.”

A recent executive order by President Donald Trump suspended the refugee program for at least 90 days, citing the burden of high levels of migration on cities and towns that do not have the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants.

Several faith-based refugee services brought forward the lawsuit against the Trump administration, citing damages such as having to lay off staff amid the funding freeze for processing refugee applications overseas. Individual refugees who were trying to resettle in the U.S. and their families also brought forward the lawsuit. 

The plaintiffs included the International Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee aid group HIAS, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest as well as individual refugees and family members. 

The plaintiffs maintained that the refugee freeze was unlawful and had caused irreparable harm to refugees and aid organizations. 

Justice Department lawyer August Flentje asserted that by law, the president may deny entry to foreigners if their admission to the U.S. would be detrimental to the nation’s interests. 

Whitehead is set to write a full opinion within the next few days. 

The U.S. bishops recently brought forward a similar lawsuit over the refugee funding freeze. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., refused to immediately block the order, though another hearing is set for Friday. 

Jesuit Refugee Services USA, an advocacy and aid group for refugees operating in 58 countries, was negatively impacted by the funding freeze and the pause of the refugee program. 

Bridget Cusick, a spokesperson for the group, noted that “for generations, the U.S. has been a leader in refugee resettlement.”

“We invite refugees to our shores because it is the right thing to do — and, as the Gospel of Luke says, in sowing bountifully we have reaped bountifully: The contributions of refugees to our nation have redounded to us in the form of leaders in government, business, and industry, not to mention culture, cuisine, and friendship,” Cusick told CNA. 

“Refugees are the most thoroughly vetted new arrivals to our country and are models of resilience,” Cusick said. “We truly believe that the administration will ultimately decide it advances our nation’s interests and standing as a world leader to continue our tradition of inviting refugees to become Americans.” 

After filing the lawsuit last week, the U.S. bishops emphasized the plight of refugees, urging the U.S. government to restore funding.  

“We are urging the government to uphold its legal and moral obligations to refugees and to restore the necessary funding to ensure that faith-based and community organizations can continue this vital work that reflects our nation’s values of compassion, justice, and hospitality,” said U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spokesperson Chieko Noguchi.

Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262447/judge-blocks-trump-s-pause-on-refugee-admissions