Refugee Resettlement Efforts Resume Amid Legal Challenges
Legal proceedings continue as the case against a Trump-era executive order, which halted refugee resettlement and related funding, advances in court. Recently, a federal judge mandated the resumption of both refugee resettlement efforts and their funding, challenging the order issued in January.
The lawsuit, initiated by refugees, their sponsors, and resettlement agencies, has led to a court ruling that compels the federal government to reactivate its resettlement program. Following this, a federal judge has instructed that both the resettlement process and funding be restarted.
In compliance with the court’s directive, federal attorneys submitted a status report indicating that some resettlement activities have resumed, with more planned. However, they emphasized that agencies must first adhere to new executive orders that introduce stricter vetting procedures and other requirements for refugees and new immigrants.
“The Secretary of State submitted a report on this requirement on or about February 19, 2025, and policy decisions formulating new vetting guidelines for refugees consistent with this executive order are pending,” the report states. “The Department of State will apply these formulated heightened standards to all refugee arrivals going forward.”
Mevlüde Akay Alp, a senior staff attorney at the International Refugee Project (IRAP), which represents the plaintiffs, expressed skepticism about the government’s compliance. She noted that while the report mentions processing petitions for family reunification, it does not indicate substantial progress in resuming the resettlement program.
“Despite the fact that in their report they discuss some processing of follow to join petitioners who are family members of refugees in the United States, I would caution that that doesn’t actually translate to real relief,” Akay Alp stated. “This report doesn’t suggest that there has been any meaningful steps towards resuming the USAP as the court ordered the government to do.”
Akay Alp pointed out that these measures are merely initial steps in a protracted resettlement process. As of now, no new refugees have been admitted to the U.S. since the imposition of the January executive order. The judge is set to assess updates from both parties later this week.
Additionally, attorneys highlighted the need to reinstate resettlement workers who were furloughed due to the funding freeze. IRAP has also submitted a separate request to the court to address ongoing funding challenges affecting the refugee resettlement program.
