Catholic bishops have taken legal action against the Trump administration for abruptly halting funding for refugee resettlement. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops 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 bishops argue that the funding suspension violates various laws and the constitutional provision that gives Congress the power of the purse, as the approved funding has been withheld, including reimbursements for costs incurred before the abrupt cut-off.
The Migration and Refugee Services of the conference has been forced to send layoff notices to more than half of its staff, with additional cuts expected in local Catholic Charities offices that collaborate 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 all individuals, especially the most vulnerable, including migrants. The funding suspension hinders the church's ability to fulfill this mission.
The lawsuit highlights that the refugee resettlement program is a domestic initiative to assist legally approved refugees in meeting their initial needs such as housing and job placement. The USCCB spends more on refugee resettlement annually than it receives in federal funding, making the program financially unsustainable without government support.
The lawsuit names the departments of State and Health and Human Services, along with their respective secretaries, as defendants. The USCCB is still awaiting approximately $13 million in reimbursements for expenses incurred prior to the funding suspension.
The suspension of the resettlement effort is expected to prolong the time it takes for refugees to secure employment and become self-sufficient. President Trump's administration, known for reducing refugee admissions, suspended the program upon taking office in January.
Vice President JD Vance's recent criticism of the bishops conference for resettling 'illegal immigrants' to obtain federal funding was met with responses defending the program's legitimacy and the importance of Christian charity in aiding those in need.
