Washington, DC- March 16, 2017
Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) applauds the United States’ District Court in Hawaii’s recent decision to issue a temporary restraining order that blocks the execution of the Trump Administration’s “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States” Executive Order.
This ruling not only thwarts the Administration’s efforts to “pause” the U.S. refugee resettlement program for 120 days, but it also halts the dramatic reduction of the number of refugees the United States can admit this fiscal year from 110,000 to 50,000.
Hans van de Weerd, Chair of RCUSA, said “Judge Watson’s decision to stop the implementation of the refugee and Muslim ban is yet another recognition that the modifications to the original Executive Order were cosmetic. They did nothing to change the intent of the ban, which was to prevent refugees, the most thoroughly vetted individuals and families to enter the United States, from starting their lives as new Americans in communities that welcome them throughout the country.”
While RCUSA is pleased with the Hawaii court’s ruling, we recognize that its impact is temporary, and the fight is not yet over. We will continue to urge the Administration and Congress to listen to the millions of Americans who stand in solidarity with refugees and immigrants and rescind the Executive Order.