News & Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Spencer Tilger | media@refugeerights.org
NINTH CIRCUIT RULES GOVERNMENT MUST FUND DOMESTIC REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES, REVERSES ORDER REQUIRING CONTINUED REFUGEE PROCESSING
(Pasadena, CA) – Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in Pacito v. Trump, largely reversing the injunction in the lawsuit challenging the unlawful suspension of the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and the withholding of millions of dollars in critical funds to refugee-serving agencies. The Appeals Court affirmed that the government must continue funding domestic resettlement services to refugees in the United States, but reversed the District Court’s previous ruling that the government’s suspension of processing and admissions for refugees who had been approved for resettlement prior to President Trump’s refugee ban was unlawful.
The lawsuit was filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) on behalf of Church World Service (CWS), HIAS, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW), as well as nine individuals who represent a class of impacted refugees. The case will continue moving forward in the Western District of Washington.
“Today’s order from the Court of Appeals removes the ability for refugees stranded by the refugee ban to be safely resettled, or even have their cases processed, while President Trump’s cruel ban continues,” said Mevlüde Akay Alp, IRAP Senior Litigation Attorney. “While we welcome the Court’s decision to uphold the government’s obligation to provide critical services to newly resettled refugees, it is deeply disappointing that the Ninth Circuit cut the lifeline provided by the District Court’s previous order for plaintiffs like Pacito and many others to reach safety in the United States. We will continue to fight for the integrity of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program through this lawsuit.”
“Today’s decision is another blow to families we’ve been honored to serve for over 50 years – those who followed every rule, checked every box, and waited years to come to the United States at our country’s invitation,” said David Duea, LCSNW CEO. “We are saddened by how quickly and carelessly the invitation was revoked. But we won’t stop extending a hand of welcome to newcomers who find their way to our doors.”
“More than a year ago, the Trump administration slammed the door on refugees, violating the promise of protection that was made to them by the U.S. government,” said Beth Oppenheim, HIAS CEO. “Today’s decision makes a pathway to safety even less attainable for tens of thousands of people. While we are heartened that the court upheld the government’s obligation to provide resettlement services to people already here, we are acutely and painfully aware of how many cannot make it to the United States.”
“Church World Service will continue its work toward an end of the refugee ban. We believe a full restoration of the refugee resettlement program is a vital step in supporting those most in need around the world and towards returning our nation to its role as a compassion leader globally,” said Rick Santos, CWS President and CEO. “The administration must reverse course and protect those fleeing persecution and violence—a bedrock of our democracy and bipartisan ethos that served us well for decades. Congress must also do its part to safeguard our spirit of welcome, by passing the NO BAN Act, key legislation that would limit the executive branch’s authority to implement sweeping prejudicial travel and refugee bans that only make the United States weaker.”
Background on the Ruling
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order indefinitely halting the entry of refugees through USRAP. After a federal court in Seattle issued an injunction in February 2025 preventing the government from implementing its ban on refugee processing and admissions and from suspending funding for refugee resettlement services, the Trump administration sought multiple clarifications from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. More than a hundred refugees are estimated to have been admitted under the injunction, including named plaintiff Pacito, until the Ninth Circuit stayed refugee processing and admission under the injunction in July 2025.
Today, the Ninth Circuit reversed the injunction almost entirely, but affirmed the district court’s decision that the government must fulfill its obligations to provide funding to recently arrived refugees. Thousands of refugees who had their travel booked prior to the refugee suspension and who relied on the promise of resettlement are still waiting to travel to their new homes in the United States.
Additional Resources
- Read the decision: HERE
- Read the Western District of Washington’s previous order: HERE
- Learn more about the case: HERE
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.
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