RCUSA Responds to New Ruling in Pacito v. Trump, Opposes Ongoing Unlawful Suspension of the U.S. Resettlement Program

Washington, DC – On March 5th, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals formally reversed a lower court’s ruling in the case of Pacito v. Trump, the lawsuit challenging the unlawful refugee ban and ongoing suspension of the U.S. resettlement program. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling keeps in place the Trump administration’s ban on the processing and admission of refugees.

However, the Ninth Circuit’s decision affirmed the lower court’s ruling that the administration must continue funding domestic resettlement services to refugees already in the United States. And the court acknowledged that more than 100,000 refugees still overseas, many of whom spent years making their way through the U.S. refugee admissions process, and had been conditionally approved for admission into the United States, had been “turned away on a tarmac.”

“Since day one, the Trump administration has systematically attacked the durability of refugee protections, and the effect has been to dehumanize, harm, terrorize, and endanger refugee communities,” said John Slocum, Executive Director of Refugee Council USA. “The Ninth Circuit’s ruling is one step closer to blocking permanent protection, denying refugees a safe place to call home.”

“But this isn’t the end of the road. We are encouraged by the court’s affirmation that the federal  government must continue funding resettlement services for resettled refugees. And we remain steadfast in our commitment to refugees – those who have been resettled in the United States as well as those stranded abroad. We urge elected leaders to forcibly denounce the administration’s sweeping attacks against refugee protections and the U.S. resettlement program. Now is the time for Congress to step up and hold the administration accountable for its discriminatory and unlawful targeting of refugees and others who have come to this country seeking safety.”

Media Contact: Jen Reeves, jreeves@rcusa.org 

RCUSA is a diverse coalition advocating for just and humane laws and policies, and the promotion of dialogue and communication among government, civil society, and those who need protection and welcome. Individual RCUSA members do not all address all refugee-related issues, nor do all individual members approach common refugee-related issues identically.

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