Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump's effort to nix refugee program
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President Trump at the White House on Feb. 21 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked President Trump's effort to suspend the country's refugee resettlement program on Tuesday, multiple outlets reported.
The big picture: U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead granted a preliminary injunction, blocking Trump's executive order and finding that it appeared to "cross the line."
Driving the news: The judge said during a hearing Tuesday that Trump's executive order likely violates the Refugee Act of 1980, the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment's due process clause, the Seattle Times reports.
- In his ruling following the hearing, Whitehead wrote that the president's actions amounted to an "effective nullification of congressional will" in setting up the nation's refugee admissions program, per AP.
- "The president has substantial discretion ... to suspend refugee admissions," Whitehead said. "But that authority is not limitless."
Zoom in: The lawsuit was filed by aid groups including the Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency HIAS and Lutheran Community Services Northwest, in addition to individual refugees and family members.
- They argued Trump's executive order contradicts the system set up by Congress to allow refugees into the U.S.
What they're saying: "We are relieved that the court has recognized the immediate harm our plaintiffs have experienced and granted our motion for a preliminary injunction," Laurie Ball Cooper, vice president of U.S. Legal Programs at the International Refugee Assistance Project said in a statement to Axios.
- "As the judge stated, the President's discretion is not limitless," Cooper added. "The refugee ban is illegal and must be stopped. We will continue to fight for our clients and all refugees, so that they can live freely and in safety and be reunited with their families."
- The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Context: On his first day in office, Trump unleashed sweeping limits on immigration and asylum, and halted the nation's refugee admissions program.
- His executive order suspended refugee resettlements for four months and expedited the removal of those who have sought asylum but don't meet the requirements.
- He called the entry of refugees "detrimental to the interests of the United States."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with an additional statement and context.
Go deeper: Trump's orders unleash sweeping limits on immigration, asylum
