HIAS welcomes tonight’s federal court decision blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to detain tens of thousands of refugees who were lawfully admitted through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
The ruling in Jean A. et al v. Noem halts a policy that sought to subject resettled refugees to arrest and mandatory detention if they had not yet obtained their green cards. Refugees are required to apply for lawful permanent residency after one year, but delays are common and often caused by systemic barriers, not wrongdoing. Punishing refugees for these delays by subjecting them to detention inflicts needless harm and erodes the very nature of resettlement as a safety tool for victims of persecution all over the world.
“Detaining and retraumatizing refugees after they entrusted their lives to this country and the communities who have welcomed them is not being done in the service of keeping America safe – it is administrative cruelty in action,” said Beth Oppenheim, HIAS CEO.
HIAS is especially proud that our partners at Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts stood as plaintiffs in this case, courageously challenging a policy that inflicted fear and instability on refugee families. Their leadership reflects the vital role local resettlement agencies play in defending the rights and dignity of the communities they serve.
HIAS also filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs, bringing to the court more than a century of experience helping refugees rebuild their lives in safety. Our brief underscored the devastating human impact of detention on individuals who have already endured persecution and trauma, and the ways in which this policy undermined the integrity of the U.S. refugee resettlement system itself.
HIAS will continue to stand alongside refugees and our partners to ensure that the United States upholds its legal and moral obligations to those seeking safety. “I am incredibly proud of our affiliate organization Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts and the many other agencies and people who continue to stand up for what’s right,” said Oppenheim. “Together we can uphold the faith that so many have placed in our country to make their lives safer, their world better, and to give their children a chance at a better future.”
For press inquiries, contact media@hias.org.