Catholic Bishops Sue Trump Administration Over Halt to Refugee Resettlement Funding

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump over its sudden decision to halt funding for the refugee resettlement program, which the source describes as one of the country’s largest humanitarian programs.

According to the Washington Post, the bishops described the decision as illegal. They argued that it harms newly arrived refugees and exposes them to severe hardship, and that it contradicts federal laws that guarantee the program’s funding in advance through Congress.

The Conference said the sudden suspension has led to the layoff of more than half of its migration and refugee services staff, with 50 employees losing their jobs so far, and that further cuts are expected at local Catholic charities. Losing the staff who help refugees meet basic needs shows the cost of leaving the vulnerable without protection (Proverbs 31:8-9).

In a statement quoted in the report, the Conference’s president, Timothy Broglio, said: “The Catholic Church has long defended the rights of the most vulnerable groups, including the poor, refugees, and the elderly. The decision to suspend funding hinders our humanitarian efforts to serve refugees who need basic support to integrate into American society.”

The lawsuit, filed before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, states that the program is not part of foreign aid but is a domestic program. It says the program supports refugees with housing, employment, and basic services during the first months after their arrival.

According to the New York Times, the lawsuit names the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services. It also names Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., given their direct role in authorizing and administering the resettlement program.

So far, no official statements have been issued by the relevant government bodies regarding the case, while negotiations continue over the future of the program’s funding and its impact on thousands of refugees in the United States.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)