SEATTLE — A coalition of major refugee assistance organizations has initiated legal action against the Trump administration, challenging a recent executive order that halts the federal refugee resettlement program as well as funding for agencies involved in the resettlement process.
The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court of Seattle, seeks a judicial declaration that the executive order is unlawful, an injunction to suspend its execution, and a restoration of refugee-related funding.
Melissa Keaney, a lawyer with the International Refugee Assistance Project, expressed strong sentiments regarding the matter, asserting that “President Trump cannot override the will of Congress with a mere signature.” She emphasized that the United States is bound by both moral and legal obligations to safeguard refugees, warning that the continuation of this unauthorized suspension could lead to devastating outcomes.
The executive order issued by President Trump claims that the refugee resettlement program—considered a legal pathway for migration to the U.S.—will be paused due to overwhelming migration pressures on cities and communities, stating these localities lack the capacity to accommodate large influxes of migrants, particularly refugees.
As of now, the Trump administration has not publicly addressed the ongoing lawsuit.
This legal action is spearheaded by the International Refugee Assistance Project in coalition with organizations such as Church World Service, HIAS (a Jewish refugee resettlement organization), Lutheran Community Services Northwest, along with various individuals including refugees themselves.
The organizations contend that the President’s order has drastically hindered their ability to offer essential services to refugees, impacting those who had already received approval for resettlement by abruptly canceling their travel plans and leaving families in limbo and unable to reunite.
The lawsuit asserts that the suspension of the refugee program is unlawful and encroaches on Congress’s authority over immigration legislation.
The federal refugee program has operated for many years, assisting individuals fleeing war, natural disasters, or persecution. While acceptance of refugees has traditionally been supported across party lines, the program has seen heightened political scrutiny in recent years.
Refugees are subject to a thorough vetting procedure that can take several years, typically referred to the U.S. State Department through the United Nations.
Historically, the refugee resettlement program has garnered bipartisan backing, yet during its first term, the Trump administration implemented a temporary halt and subsequently reduced the annual cap on refugee admissions significantly.
Religious organizations play a critical role in the refugee resettlement process in the U.S., with seven out of the ten national agencies that receive federal funding for refugee placement being faith-based.
This lawsuit marks yet another legal objection to various Trump immigration policies, which also include efforts to eliminate automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to unauthorized immigrants and directives aimed at curtailing asylum access at the southern border.
