The latest: As of 9am on April 4, the indefinite refugee ban and funding freeze remain in effect despite action from the courts. In Pacito v. Trump, the administration has been ordered to reinstate resettlement contracts and continue to process and resettle over 100,000 refugees who were conditionally approved by USCIS as of January 20. While resettlement remains at a virtual standstill (apart from some Follow-To-Join cases and a Trump administration initiative supporting the resettlement of white South African farmers), these conditionally approved refugees are stranded in increasingly difficult and dangerous circumstances all around the world. 

Some key upcoming dates to keep in mind as communities supporting refugee resettlement track the Pacito case and join in advocacy for more welcoming policies: 

April 7. A joint status report in the Pacito case is due from both plaintiffs and the Trump administration documenting compliance with the court’s orders.
April 20. Easter Sunday – and the date on which a report on the possible resumption of the refugee program is due from the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State (it remains unclear if and when this report will be made public). 
June 2-4. Refugee Council USA holds its annual advocacy days in Washington D.C., bringing together refugees, service providers, faith leaders, and many others to advocate with their elected leaders in support of refugee resettlement and humanitarian protection. Register and learn more!
June 10. Date by which the administration’s appeal of the two preliminary injunctions in the Pacito case is set to be fully briefed in the Ninth Circuit. 
June 20. World Refugee Day. An opportunity to recognize and celebrate the courage and resilience of those fleeing violence and persecution around the world.  

Latest on legal services for unaccompanied children. While litigation continues, legal service providers supporting unaccompanied children (including toddlers and infants) remain in limbo after the Trump administration abruptly terminated nearly all contracts under the Unaccompanied Children Program. On April 1, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order in Community Legal Services v. HHS, requiring the administration to restore legal representation for tens of thousands of children. The temporary order has gone into effect and is set to run through April 16, but legal aid providers have not yet seen federal dollars begin flowing to fund these vital services. 

On April 2, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) was joined by 26 other Senators in reintroducing the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act, legislation that guarantees access to legal representation for unaccompanied children in court hearings before an immigration judge.  

See CWS’ statement on the impact of the termination of UC legal services here, and follow the latest in the court case here.  

Initial hearing set for today in historic lawsuit on “protected areas.” Today, at 10am ET, a judge in Washington, D.C. will hold an initial hearing in Mennonite Church USA v. DHS, a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s rescission of a policy that protects certain areas – including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals – from ICE enforcement operations. The suit was filed on behalf of over two dozen religious groups representing millions of Americans. 

Various iterations of a policy limiting ICE actions in houses of worship and other protected areas has been in place since at least 1993. Tune in to the hearing live at 10am ET by dialing 833-990-9400 (Meeting ID: 117076001) and follow the latest filings in the case here.