District Court Ruling Blocks Refugee Ban
Washington, D.C.— Human Rights First welcomes yesterday’s ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington blocking the implementation of the administration’s restrictions on admission of refugees from 11 countries for a minimum of 90 days. The ruling will halt the ban on admission of refugees with bona fide relationships in the United States, including family members of refugees currently in the United States who are part of the U.S. refugee resettlement follow-to-join program.
“Once again the courts see straight through the Trump Administration’s veiled attempts to discriminate against vulnerable refugees and tear apart families. We welcome Judge Robart’s decision, which will continue to allow those fleeing violence and persecution to find safety in the United States,” said Human Rights First’s Hary Vieux. “Welcoming refugees and keeping families together is not only a moral imperative but is good for our country’s national security– supporting allies strained by the challenges of the global refugee crisis.”
The decision follows a December 21 hearing of two challenges to the Trump Administration’s October 25 ban on refugees. The first challenge was brought by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP); the National Immigration Law Center (NILC); Lauren Aguiar, Mollie M. Kornreich, and Abigail Shaheen Davis; Perkins Coie LLP; and HIAS on behalf of Jewish Family Service of Seattle, Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley, and individual plaintiffs. The second challenge was brought by the ACLU of Washington, on behalf of a refugee living in Washington state who seeks to be reunited with his family.
