Washington, DC- June 13, 2017

Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit dealt another blow to the Administration’s attempted travel ban. This is the latest in a string of rulings, including the Fourth Circuit’s recent decision that the travel ban is likely to be found to be unconstitutional, that currently keeps the travel ban Executive Order from being implemented.

The injunction that now stays in place, barring a Supreme Court decision that rules otherwise, means that foreign nationals from the six countries included in the Executive Order may continue to enter the United States, as can refugees arriving through the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

RCUSA also supports the Ninth Circuit’s finding that the Administration should not previously have been stymied in its efforts to review vetting procedures. We support the practice previous Administrations, both Republican and Democrat, have adhered to: consistently evaluating the USRAP’s security while simultaneously safely admitting refugees. The integrity and security of the U.S. refugee resettlement program is of paramount concern to us, and if there are adjustments that could be made to make it more secure, while also ensuring the continuation of robust refugee arrivals, we would support those changes.

“The decision of the 9th US Circuit Court today is a welcomed judgement against the illegality of the Administration’s travel ban,” states Hans van de Weerd, Chair of RCUSA. “We now urge the Administration to leave the refugee resettlement program in place while they conduct a security review. At its core, the ban is a cruel one that tears apart the families our coalition serves. Further, the order does not advance foreign policy or national security – and it undermines the very real and positive economic contributions refugees bring to communities that welcome them throughout the country.”