Catholic bishops have taken legal action against the Trump administration over its sudden stop of funding for refugee resettlement. They argue that this decision is not only illegal but also detrimental to both refugees and the nation’s largest private resettlement program.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is claiming that the government’s cuts violate laws and the Constitution by denying funds that Congress had already approved. The abrupt halt to funding has forced the bishops to issue layoff notices to over half of their staff, impacting their ability to assist refugees.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB, emphasized the Catholic Church’s commitment to helping vulnerable groups, including migrants. He stated that the funding suspension prevents them from fulfilling this mission. “We can no longer support the thousands of refugees in our care without the necessary funds,” he said.
Although the USCCB is trying to keep its program afloat, Broglio called the situation “financially unsustainable.” The organization wants to hold the government accountable for its commitments to assist those seeking refuge in the United States.
On January 24, the State Department informed various agencies, many of them faith-based, about an immediate stop to funding for refugee resettlement while the government reviews foreign-aid programs. This program is crucial for helping refugees with essential needs like housing and job placement, yet the lawsuit asserts it’s not even classified as foreign aid.
The USCCB spends more on refugee resettlement than it receives in federal funding. The lawsuit pointed out that without federal support, the conference cannot continue its services. It warned that the government’s actions could harm the long-term viability of the program.
The lawsuit targets the Departments of State and Health and Human Services, along with their leaders. Currently, there has been no public response from these departments regarding the lawsuit.
The bishops also mentioned that they are still waiting for approximately $13 million in reimbursements for costs incurred before January 24.
As of late January, there were nearly 7,000 refugees under USCCB’s care who had recently arrived in the U.S. The bishops expressed concern that the funding cut would lengthen the time refugees take to find jobs and achieve independence.
Since this funding suspension, the Trump administration has faced criticism. In his first term, he enforced strict limits on refugee admissions and has continued to attack the resettlement program. Recently, Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, accused the bishops of resettling “illegal immigrants” to receive federal funds. The bishops refuted this claim, clarifying that their program is for legally approved refugees and that they often cover costs beyond what the government reimburses.
This discussion has drawn responses from not just U.S. bishops but also from Pope Francis, who underscored the Christian duty to assist those in need, regardless of their background.
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