Catholic bishops have taken legal action against the Trump administration for abruptly halting funding for refugee resettlement. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed a lawsuit, claiming that the administration's actions are unlawful and detrimental to both newly arrived refugees and the nation's largest private resettlement program.
The USCCB argues that the administration's decision to withhold funding, even for costs incurred before the funding cut-off, violates various laws and the constitutional provision that gives Congress the power of the purse, as Congress had already approved the funding.
As a result of the funding suspension, the USCCB's Migration and Refugee Services has been forced to send layoff notices to more than half of its staff, with additional cuts expected in local Catholic Charities offices that partner with the national office.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB, emphasized the Catholic Church's commitment to upholding the common good and promoting the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable, including migrants. The funding suspension hinders the church's ability to fulfill this mission.
The USCCB is striving to continue its refugee resettlement program, but the financial strain is becoming unsustainable. The organization is seeking to hold the U.S. government accountable to its moral and legal obligations.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, highlights that the resettlement program is a domestic initiative to assist legally approved refugees in meeting their initial needs such as housing and job placement.
The USCCB is still awaiting approximately $13 million in reimbursements for expenses incurred prior to the funding suspension. The organization stressed that suspending the resettlement effort will only prolong the time it takes for refugees to find employment and become self-sufficient.
President Donald Trump's administration suspended the refugee resettlement program in January, drawing criticism from various quarters. Vice President JD Vance's remarks about the bishops conference resettling 'illegal immigrants' for federal funding were refuted by U.S. bishops and implicitly rebuked by Pope Francis.
