A federal judge has declined to immediately block the Trump administration's sudden cessation of funding for the nation's largest private refugee resettlement program, dealing a blow to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Judge Trevor McFadden rejected the bishops' request for a temporary restraining order to reinstate the funding, emphasizing that such an order should be granted sparingly.
McFadden's ruling is described as 'very tentative,' with a scheduled hearing next Friday on the bishops' plea for a preliminary injunction to halt the administration's funding pause. The judge has also mandated a mediation session between the two parties with a federal magistrate judge.
The bishops argue that the suspension of millions of dollars in aid, announced by the U.S. State Department on January 24, has impacted nearly 7,000 newly arrived refugees. They contend that withholding resettlement costs violates various laws and the constitutional provision granting Congress the power of the purse.
The Migration and Refugee Services of the conference has issued layoff notices to over half of its staff, with further cuts anticipated. The plaintiffs' attorney emphasized that this lawsuit is a last resort for them, expressing concerns about the difficulty of rehiring staff if layoffs proceed.
The administration's stance is that the country cannot accommodate more refugees, and the funding halt is intended to align with the president's priorities. The Justice Department views the lawsuit as a contract dispute, asserting that delaying reimbursements does not breach the terms of the cooperation agreement.
President Trump suspended new refugee admissions upon taking office in January, impacting recent arrivals still eligible for resettlement aid. The State Department argued against the bishops' petition, citing concerns about overlapping court orders and highlighting a prior court ruling to lift a funding freeze on foreign humanitarian aid.
The bishops conference stressed the importance of federal assistance for sustaining the resettlement program, noting that it spends millions beyond federal reimbursements. The suspension of resettlement efforts, they argue, will prolong refugees' journey to employment and self-sufficiency.
Trump's administration has been critical of refugee resettlement and immigration avenues, with Vice President JD Vance recently accusing the bishops conference of resettling 'illegal immigrants' for federal funding. This remark drew responses from U.S. bishops and an implicit rebuke from Pope Francis, who emphasized the importance of Christian charity in aiding those in need.
