Catholic Bishops Sue Over Freeze In Refugee Resettlement Funding

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on Tuesday sued to challenge the Trump administration blocking funding for refugee resettlement programs.

Immigration groups have already sued over the administration suspending new refugee admissions, but the new lawsuit seeks to stop the State Department from freezing funding for local organizations that partner with the federal government to support refugees once they arrive in the United States.

The USCCB’s suit says more than 6,700 admitted refugees were assigned to it when its funding was suspended late last month, leaving the organization on the hook for millions of dollars weekly and already forcing it to lay off employees.

“Refugees who have already entered the United States may soon be cut off from support, contravening the statutorily expressed will of Congress and making it more difficult for them to establish themselves as productive members of society,” reads the complaint.

The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C.’s federal district court, claims the freeze undermines Congress’ power of the purse and violates multiple federal laws.

The Hill has reached out to the State Department for comment.

More here