Faith groups claim legal victories on refugees, ICE raids at houses of worship
Martin Bernstein, 95, whose parents were refugees, at center, holds a sign as people gather outside the US District Court after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's effort to halt the nation's refugee admissions system, February 25, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Religious groups challenging President Donald Trump won a pair of legal victories this week, blocking the administration’s efforts to dismantle the refugee program and reinstating sensitive-location protections from immigration enforcement in some houses of worship.
On Tuesday, a federal judge in Washington state sided with the plaintiffs—which included Church World Service, HIAS, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest, as well as individual refugees and family members—blocking the president’s January 20 executive order to suspend the refugee program.
In his ruling from the bench, US District Judge Jamal Whitehead said the president’s actions amounted to a “nullification of congressional will,” arguing the president does not have “limitless” authority over refugee admissions.
