US bishops demand the Trump administration for freezing funds for refugees

The United States Catholic Bishop Conference (USCCB) is demanding the Trump administration, so it considers an illegal suspension of funds for refugee programs in the country.

Upon assuming the January, President Donald Trump issued large executive orders that, among other measures, ordered freezing funds and subsidies for foreign assistance, with the intention of eradicating the leftist initiatives in the programs financed by the federal government.

The orders have resulted in a series of legal challenges by defenders and non -profit groups that argue that funding is illegal. Other groups such as Catholic Charities have urged the Trump administration to reconsider freezing, citing “crucial attention” that financing helps to provide.

In its lawsuit, filed on February 18 at the United States District Court in Washington DC, the USCCB indicates that it has worked with the population office, refugees and migration from the United States State Department for “almost half a century” for Help with the resettlement of refugees in the country.

The refugee office has committed “around 65 million dollars in federal funds” for the USCCB and its affiliates for refugee services, bishops say in their demand.

However, on January 24, the State Department suspended the financing “without prior notice.” The bishops received a “two -page surface letter” in which they were informed of the suspension.

The suspension results have been “devastating,” says bishops. They also report “millions of dollars in pending reimbursements and without paying for services already provided to refugees”, along with “millions more every week.”

“The USCCB has already been forced to start layoffs for 50 employees,” says the demand. “It faces irreparable damage to its long -standing refugee resettlement programs and their reputation and relationship with their subreceptors and the populations of refugees it serves,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Downstream partners have also been forced to say goodbye to personnel, bishops say, while refugees who are already in the United States “could soon run out of support.”

Bishops argue that the freezing of funds violates the Federal Administrative Procedure Law, which supervises how federal agencies administer the rules and processes. The demand states that freezing also violates the separation of powers under the constitution of the United States.

In their lawsuit, bishops ask the Court to cancel the suspension of funds and block the federal government to implement it.

Earlier this month, the Jesuit service to refugees argued that more than 100,000 refugees worldwide will be negatively affected by the freezing of Trump’s funds, and that the Pause will cause a “total work strike” for the Catholic organization.

In January, US bishops asked Catholics to contact their members and request the resumption of foreign aid financing after the freezing of the White House.

The pause “will be harmful to millions of our brothers and sisters who need access to humanitarian, health and development assistance that save their lives,” said bishops.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.