State Department Accused of Dodging Refugee Court Ruling, Say Humanitarian Organizations

Refugee advocacy organizations claimed in court on Thursday that the Trump administration is seemingly attempting to sidestep a recent judicial decision that halted its efforts to pause the refugee admissions scheme.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead in Seattle established that although the president possesses substantial power concerning national entry permissions, he lacks the authority to invalidate the legislated U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

Judge Whitehead, appointed by former President Joe Biden, criticized Trump's actions as essentially overruling Congress's intentions. He issued a preliminary injunction at the request of aid groups, blocking Trump's executive order aimed at halting the refugee resettlement process, with a formal ruling expected soon.

Despite this, organizations like Church World Service and HIAS received notices on Wednesday indicating that their funding agreements with the State Department had been revoked.

On Thursday, the aid groups sought an urgent court hearing to discuss the implications of these termination notices or to ensure that Whitehead’s order is deemed applicable to these new developments, labeling the administration's moves as an outright attempt to subvert the judicial decision.

The request highlighted ongoing defunding efforts related to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Process, stating that an immediate legal session is crucial to prevent bypassing the judge's verbal ruling and upcoming written determination.

Judge Whitehead scheduled a hearing for the following Monday to address these concerns.

The State Department acknowledged receiving a query from The Associated Press regarding the aid groups’ legal filing, but did not provide further commentary on the matter. The notifications described the cessation of cooperative partnerships with these agencies as being done for the U.S. Government’s convenience, based on a directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aligning with strategic priorities.

Since its inception by Congress in 1980, the refugee acceptance program serves as a structured migration pathway for individuals fleeing conflict, disaster, or persecution, distinct from asylum procedures for arrivals fearing persecution in their homelands.

Traditionally backed by both political parties, the refugee initiative has grown contentious; Trump halted it in his first term and dramatically reduced refugee intake.

Globally, 600,000 individuals are currently navigating the process to resettle in the U.S. as refugees, according to official data.

Trump’s order and the hold on funding left approved refugees in limbo and forced aid agencies to downsize and scale back support, including housing help, for recent settlers, according to the legal challenge.

Separately, a day prior, the Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court to stop another ruling which mandated releasing billions in frozen foreign aid.

Shawn VanDiver, who leads the #AfghanEvac coalition for Afghan resettlement, said the contract cancellations endanger Afghans linked with the U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan, who are currently being assisted via refugee and special visa programs.

VanDiver noted that while the special visa program persists, the funding withdrawal hinders supporting qualifying Afghans to integrate into U.S. society.

"Now, Afghans must independently navigate their path here," he commented, equating the situation to the disarray experienced during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Kabul.