Latest news with #MelissaKeaney
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Seattle-area aid groups sue over Trump's order suspending federal refugee program and funding
Major refugee aid groups sued the Trump administration on Monday over the president's executive order suspending the federal refugee resettlement program and funding for resettlement agencies. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle asks the court to declare Trump's executive order illegal, stop the order's implementation and restore refugee-related funding. 'President Trump cannot override the will of Congress with the stroke of a pen,' Melissa Keaney, an attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said in a news release. 'The United States has a moral and legal obligation to protect refugees, and the longer this illegal suspension continues, the more dire the consequences will be.' President Donald Trump's recent order said the refugee program — a form of legal migration to the U.S. — would be suspended because cities and communities had been taxed by 'record levels of migration' and didn't have the ability to 'absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees.' The Trump administration didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and individuals including refugees. The organizations say their ability to provide critical services to refugees in the U.S. and abroad has been severely inhibited by Trump's order. It already has impacted refugees who had been approved to come to the U.S. by having their travel canceled on short notice and kept families hoping to reunite apart, the lawsuit says. It argues that the refugee suspension is unlawful and violates Congress' authority to make immigration laws. The federal refugee program has been in place for decades and helps people who have escaped war, natural disaster or persecution. Despite longstanding support for accepting refugees, the program has become politicized in recent years. Refugees undergo an extensive vetting process that can take years. They are usually referred to the U.S. State Department by the United Nations. While the resettlement program has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, the first Trump administration also temporarily halted it and then dramatically lowered the number of refugees who could enter the U.S. each year. Religious organizations do the majority of the refugee resettlement work in the United States. Seven of the 10 federally funded national agencies that resettle refugees are faith-based. The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge to Trump immigration policies, including his order to end automatic citizenship for children born to people in the country illegally, and his order to shut down asylum access at the southern border.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Aid groups sue over Trump's order suspending federal refugee program and funding
SEATTLE (AP) — Major refugee aid groups sued the Trump administration on Monday over the president's executive order suspending the federal refugee resettlement program and funding for resettlement agencies. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle asks the court to declare Trump's executive order illegal, stop the order's implementation and restore refugee-related funding. 'President Trump cannot override the will of Congress with the stroke of a pen,' Melissa Keaney, an attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said in a news release. 'The United States has a moral and legal obligation to protect refugees, and the longer this illegal suspension continues, the more dire the consequences will be.' President Donald Trump's recent order said the refugee program — a form of legal migration to the U.S. — would be suspended because cities and communities had been taxed by 'record levels of migration' and didn't have the ability to 'absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees.' The Trump administration didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and individuals including refugees. The organizations say their ability to provide critical services to refugees in the U.S. and abroad has been severely inhibited by Trump's order. It already has impacted refugees who had been approved to come to the U.S. by having their travel canceled on short notice and kept families hoping to reunite apart, the lawsuit says. It argues that the refugee suspension is unlawful and violates Congress' authority to make immigration laws. The federal refugee program has been in place for decades and helps people who have escaped war, natural disaster or persecution. Despite longstanding support for accepting refugees, the program has become politicized in recent years. Refugees undergo an extensive vetting process that can take years. They are usually referred to the U.S. State Department by the United Nations. While the resettlement program has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, the first Trump administration also temporarily halted it and then dramatically lowered the number of refugees who could enter the U.S. each year. Religious organizations do the majority of the refugee resettlement work in the United States. Seven of the 10 federally funded national agencies that resettle refugees are faith-based. The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge to Trump immigration policies, including his order to end automatic citizenship for children born to people in the country illegally, and his order to shut down asylum access at the southern border. The Associated Press
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Aid groups sue over Trump's order suspending federal refugee program and funding
SEATTLE (AP) — Major refugee aid groups sued the Trump administration on Monday over the president's executive order suspending the federal refugee resettlement program and funding for resettlement agencies. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle asks the court to declare Trump's executive order illegal, stop the order's implementation and restore refugee-related funding. 'President Trump cannot override the will of Congress with the stroke of a pen,' Melissa Keaney, an attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said in a news release. 'The United States has a moral and legal obligation to protect refugees, and the longer this illegal suspension continues, the more dire the consequences will be.' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. President Donald Trump's recent order said the refugee program — a form of legal migration to the U.S. — would be suspended because cities and communities had been taxed by 'record levels of migration' and didn't have the ability to 'absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees.' The Trump administration didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and individuals including refugees. The organizations say their ability to provide critical services to refugees in the U.S. and abroad has been severely inhibited by Trump's order. It already has impacted refugees who had been approved to come to the U.S. by having their travel canceled on short notice and kept families hoping to reunite apart, the lawsuit says. It argues that the refugee suspension is unlawful and violates Congress' authority to make immigration laws. The federal refugee program has been in place for decades and helps people who have escaped war, natural disaster or persecution. Despite longstanding support for accepting refugees, the program has become politicized in recent years. Refugees undergo an extensive vetting process that can take years. They are usually referred to the U.S. State Department by the United Nations. While the resettlement program has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, the first Trump administration also temporarily halted it and then dramatically lowered the number of refugees who could enter the U.S. each year. Religious organizations do the majority of the refugee resettlement work in the United States. Seven of the 10 federally funded national agencies that resettle refugees are faith-based. The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge to Trump immigration policies, including his order to end automatic citizenship for children born to people in the country illegally, and his order to shut down asylum access at the southern border.
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Aid groups sue over Trump's order suspending federal refugee program and funding
SEATTLE (AP) — Major refugee aid groups sued the Trump administration on Monday over the president's executive order suspending the federal refugee resettlement program and funding for resettlement agencies. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle asks the court to declare Trump's executive order illegal, stop the order's implementation and restore refugee-related funding. 'President Trump cannot override the will of Congress with the stroke of a pen,' Melissa Keaney, an attorney at the International Refugee Assistance Project, said in a news release. 'The United States has a moral and legal obligation to protect refugees, and the longer this illegal suspension continues, the more dire the consequences will be.' President Donald Trump's recent order said the refugee program — a form of legal migration to the U.S. — would be suspended because cities and communities had been taxed by 'record levels of migration' and didn't have the ability to 'absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees.' The Trump administration didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and individuals including refugees. The organizations say their ability to provide critical services to refugees in the U.S. and abroad has been severely inhibited by Trump's order. It already has impacted refugees who had been approved to come to the U.S. by having their travel canceled on short notice and kept families hoping to reunite apart, the lawsuit says. It argues that the refugee suspension is unlawful and violates Congress' authority to make immigration laws. The federal refugee program has been in place for decades and helps people who have escaped war, natural disaster or persecution. Despite longstanding support for accepting refugees, the program has become politicized in recent years. Refugees undergo an extensive vetting process that can take years. They are usually referred to the U.S. State Department by the United Nations. While the resettlement program has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, the first Trump administration also temporarily halted it and then dramatically lowered the number of refugees who could enter the U.S. each year. Religious organizations do the majority of the refugee resettlement work in the United States. Seven of the 10 federally funded national agencies that resettle refugees are faith-based. The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge to Trump immigration policies, including his order to end automatic citizenship for children born to people in the country illegally, and his order to shut down asylum access at the southern border.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump sued over order suspending refugee admissions
A coalition of refugee resettlement organizations sued President Trump on Monday over an executive order from the first day of his administration that indefinitely suspends the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program (USRAP). The suit challenges not just the suspension but the abrupt cutoff of funding to those that aid refugees, including for work done in advance of Trump taking office. Trump's order bars processing of those fleeing persecution and danger for 90 days as administration officials study whether accepting refugees is 'in the interests of the United States,' leaving it to the president to determine when to do so. 'President Trump cannot override the will of Congress with the stroke of a pen,' said Melissa Keaney, an attorney with International Refugee Assistance Project, which is representing the resettlement groups, in a statement. 'The United States has a moral and legal obligation to protect refugees, and the longer this illegal suspension continues, the more dire the consequences will be. Refugees and the families and communities waiting to welcome them have been thrown into indefinite limbo and the resettlement agencies ready to serve them don't know if they can keep the lights on if the government continues to withhold critical funding. This could decimate the USRAP, carrying consequences for years to come.' The suit was filed on behalf of Church World Service, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, and HIAS, formerly the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. 'The American Jewish community owes its very existence to those times when the United States opened its doors to refugees fleeing anti-Semitism and persecution,' said Mark Hetfield, HIAS's president, in a statement. 'HIAS will stand for welcome, stand up for what we believe in, and fight this refugee ban in court.' Nine refugees are also listed as plaintiffs in the suit, representing those cut off from accessing the program, a group that includes many refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan The suit argues the suspension violates numerous laws, including the U.S. Refugee Act and the Administrative Procedures Act. It also argues Trump has circumvented the Constitution's mandate on the separation of powers. The suit also challenges Trump's withholding of funds to the organizations which is spent on helping refugees get established in the United States. 'National faith-based nonprofit organizations that receive a majority of their funding from the federal government—are already struggling to keep their lights on and their staff employed, let alone continue to serve the vulnerable refugees at the core of their missions,' they wrote in the suit. 'Since receiving the Suspension Notices, the Plaintiff Resettlement Agencies have not received reimbursements for millions of dollars they are owed from the State Department for work performed in November and December 2024, well before the Suspension Notices and the Foreign Aid Executive Order issued.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
