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4mo ago

Judge Orders Trump Administration to Admit 12,000 Refugees After Program Suspension

The ruling rejects the administration's narrow interpretation of a Ninth Circuit order, mandating action within seven days to facilitate refugee admissions.

FILE - Signs are seen as Tshishiku Henry, a former refugee and Washington State Delegate for the Refugee Congress, speaks during a rally outside the U.S District Court after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's effort to halt the nation's refugee admissions system, Feb. 25, 2025 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File)
FILE - People gather outside the U.S. District Court after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's effort to halt the nation's refugee admissions system Feb. 25, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File)
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Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead has ordered the Trump administration to admit approximately 12,000 refugees who had confirmable travel plans before the January suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
  • The administration argued that only 160 refugees qualified under the Ninth Circuit's ruling, but the judge dismissed this interpretation as unfounded and inconsistent with the court's language.
  • Whitehead instructed the government to resume processing eligible refugees and ensure admissions for those with valid medical and security clearances within seven days.
  • The Refugee Act of 1980, which established USRAP, mandates resettlement of individuals displaced by war, persecution, or disasters, and the court emphasized adherence to congressional intent.
  • The administration is expected to seek further clarification or appeal the decision to the Ninth Circuit, continuing the legal battle over the scope of executive authority on refugee admissions.