Last updated: Thursday, July 24, 2025
This resource provides daily updates from the CWS policy team in your inbox on the latest policy changes; the morning’s headlines on key issues impacting refugees and immigrants; and updated tools to take action. Subscribe now to receive daily updates on the latest developments and ways to support impacted communities.
State of Play |
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The latest: Yesterday, plaintiffs filed a response in Pacito v. Trump opposing the government’s efforts to delay the review and potential resettlement of thousands of refugees. In the case, CWS and others are challenging the ongoing refugee ban and fighting for the resumption of the refugee admissions program and the resettlement of over 100,000 refugees who have been conditionally approved for resettlement by USCIS. A lower court had established a framework for reviewing and processing over 12,000 stranded refugees who had travel to the U.S. cancelled – but Trump administration lawyers had issued an emergency appeal for relief to the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit has temporarily stayed implementation of the framework to hear arguments from both sides. In yesterday’s filing, plaintiffs called the government’s emergency motion “decidedly hollow, if not outright disingenuous,” noting that the framework outlined by the District Court largely reflected a proposal the government itself had made just weeks earlier. The administration is due to file its own response by tomorrow, July 25. Then it is up to the Ninth Circuit to ask for further briefing or issue a decision on whether the framework can move forward. Venezuelans released from El Salvador begin to detail abuses. El Salvador’s notorious mega-prison CECOT has become a mainstay for third country removal under the Trump administration. In a prisoner swap on July 18, 252 Venezuelan men who had been deported from the U.S. to CECOT were released to Venezuela in exchange for 10 U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. In the days that have followed, the men have begun to share their experiences in El Salvador. In interviews, many have described their experience in CECOT as “hell” and have stated that they endured physical and psychological torture while detained there, including severe beatings and even rape. Many of the men came via legal pathways to the U.S. and had no criminal record. Now that the men have been returned to Venezuela, a country many fled from due to economic and humanitarian crises, their futures remain uncertain. ICE operations continue to devastate Los Angeles. As outrage in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement persists, more than just the frequency of protests is changing. A city known for its activity and vibrance, L.A.’s everyday institutions have become relatively quiet. In a state with over a quarter of its population made up of immigrants, a well founded fear of ICE is infiltrating its ability to function. Countless public events have been cancelled, businesses are struggling to maintain a workforce, and the music and bustle of popular streets have tangibly decreased. Should the trend continue, California, whose population shrunk during the first Trump administration, is slated to lose nearly 10% of its GDP and much more of its cultural DNA. The changes are especially concerning as the Trump administration continues to threaten sanctuary cities and states. On July 22, Louisville, Kentucky announced it would begin cooperating with ICE in certain cases. The Department of Justice responded to Louisville’s decision with a post on its social media saying Louisville should “set an example” while touting the consequences for those who don’t comply. |
Today’s Headlines, Calls to Action and Community Resources |
Stories of Impact |
| Zenayda is a refugee who resettled in Texas who has been trying for years to get her child to safety after many kidnapping attempts. The child’s flight was booked to arrive in February. That flight has now been cancelled, and the child’s case – which is listed as “extremely vulnerable” – is now once again delayed
Doaa is a single mom with three children who have been forcibly displaced and are currently living as refugees in Cairo, Egypt. She was referred to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program because of her status as a refugee and because she has family already living in New Jersey. She and her children went through the lengthy vetting and screening process and finally had their travel booked to the U.S. – but her flight was among those cancelled by Trump’s indefinite refugee admissions ban. The children are 19, 15, and 13. The case file shows the family as: “Survivors of Violence and Torture.” The Sung family are refugees from Myanmar who were split up as they fled for safe harbor. Part of the family has been resettled in Texas, and they have been waiting for years as the rest of the family goes through the resettlement process. The flight was scheduled for early February, and the family here bought a four-bedroom home just to accommodate them. Their flight was cancelled at the last minute. Find more stories of impact here. |