Jewish refugee support non-profit HIAS has joined two other pro-refugee organizations in a federal lawsuit challenging US President Donald Trump’s indefinite suspension of the US resettlement program, saying refugees and their families face irreparable harm if it is allowed to remain in effect.
The legal challenge, filed in US District Court in Washington State, argues that Trump exceeded his executive authority by abruptly shutting down the program and freezing funding to aid refugees already in the United States.
The lawsuit is filed by HIAS, Church World Service, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest, as well as nine refugees and US-based family members.
The complainants cite the possibility of serious harm to refugees and call on the court to “restore the important and historic American tradition of protecting and aiding people fleeing persecution.”
Trump, a Republican, immediately paused refugee resettlement after taking office on January 20, saying the program must ensure that refugees admitted to the US “appropriately assimilate” and that taxpayer resources are not wasted.
Days later, funds for US groups that assist refugees already in the country were frozen as part of a larger pause on foreign aid.
It's not (only) about you.
Supporting The Times of Israel isn’t a transaction for an online service, like subscribing to Netflix. The ToI Community is for people like you who care about a common good: ensuring that balanced, responsible coverage of Israel continues to be available to millions across the world, for free.
Sure, we'll remove all ads from your page and you'll unlock access to some excellent Community-only content. But your support gives you something more profound than that: the pride of joining something that really matters.
Join the Times of Israel Community
Join our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
