Silver Spring, Md — HIAS applauds today’s court ruling that blocked the Trump administration’s executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), a significant victory in restoring the moral imperative of welcoming displaced people to the United States. In his decision, Judge Jamal Whitehead ruled that the order amounted to an “effective nullification of congressional will” and that the president’s authority to suspend refugee resettlement was “not limitless.”
The decision came in the lawsuit Pacito vs. Trump, in which HIAS was a plaintiff, alongside several other resettlement agencies and individuals directly impacted by the suspension.
“We challenged President Trump’s unlawful suspension of USRAP because it not only hurts refugees — it hurts our country,” said Mark Hetfield, HIAS President. “Refugees are a blessing to our country, not a burden.”
HIAS, the oldest and only Jewish refugee aid organization in the United States, has worked with the federal government and local partner organizations to resettle refugees since the establishment of USRAP in 1980. Our clients include religious minorities from Iran, Afghans who supported the U.S. mission and are now endangered, and families and individuals from all over the world who have fled violence and persecution.
The ruling is the first step in what HIAS expects will be a long process in fully restoring refugee resettlement in the United States. But the court’s decision is an important first step. Since our inception, HIAS has fought for the right of displaced people to obtain protection in the United States from persecution and violence throughout the world. We will continue to fight until these rights are fully upheld.
The statement on HIAS’ participation in Pacito v. Trump can be found here.
For press inquiries, reach out to media@hias.org.
