The Trump administration’s indefinite refugee ban, stop work orders and prolonged delays in reimbursement for resettlement agencies have had a devastating impact on tens of thousands of refugee families and communities across the country and around the world. Welcome to the latest edition of State of Play from Church World Service. This resource will provide regular updates from the CWS Policy Team on the current state of play; updated asks for national, state and local leaders; and the latest headlines and community resources. Subscribe now to receive daily updates on the latest developments and ways to support impacted communities.
State of Play |
Renewed challenge to the refugee ban. On Tuesday, CWS and other resettlement organizations joined refugees and their family members in filing an amended complaint in the Pacito lawsuit, which challenges the Trump administration’s indefinite refugee ban. The plaintiffs argue that the administration has implemented the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in a discriminatory and illegal manner, asserting that it prioritizes the resettlement of 3,000 white Afrikaners while excluding non-white refugees and that it improperly applies the travel ban to refugees. For 14 months, the administration has categorically and unlawfully blocked at-risk groups, including those that Congress specifically prioritized for refugee resettlement, such as Iranian religious minorities and immediate relatives of resettled refugees.
You can find plaintiffs’ press release here and CWS’s explainer here.
Trump administration seeks agreements to relocate Afghans from former U.S. base in Qatar to Africa and Asia. According to the Wall Street Journal, the United States is negotiating with two sub-Saharan African countries and one southeast Asian country to accept the 1,100 Afghans who have been stranded at Camp As Sayliyah (CAS) for more than a year. Afghan allies were first evacuated by the Biden administration in 2021 after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Today, more than a thousand remain blocked from entering the United States after the Trump administration put in place travel and refugee bans and halted all visa processing for Afghans.
Although the U.S. and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement, several Gulf countries, including Qatar, continue to report missile and drone strikes. Given the heightened danger in the region, the need to bring Afghan allies to safety in the United States has become even more urgent.
Lawmakers demand State and Homeland Security watchdogs investigate third-country removals. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Troy Carter (D-LA-02), led 26 lawmakers in urging federal oversight bodies to investigate the “unlawful and costly system of ‘third-country removals.’” Despite a federal court ruling in February that this practice violates the U.S. Constitution and immigration law, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appears to continue operating as though it can deport people to third countries without individualized due process protections, relying instead on generic assurances from these countries not to persecute or torture deportees. Some 15,000 individuals were removed to third countries in 2025.
A Senate Foreign Relations Committee Minority report found that these secret agreements involve cash payments, political concessions, and coercion with countries like El Salvador, Rwanda, and Eswatini, costing more than $32 million. DHS attorneys have also used the threat of third-country removal to pressure asylum seekers to abandon their claims and accept deportation to their home countries. Individuals deported to third countries have reported torture, forced return to danger, and other human rights violations.
The letter calls for the State and Homeland Security Inspector Generals to investigate ongoing third-country deportations for due process violations, financial costs, and the risks of torture and persecution faced by deportees.
Lawmakers demand Homeland Security watchdog investigate detainee locator system failures. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), along with Representatives Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), led 32 lawmakers in urging the DHS Inspector General to investigate reports that ICE is failing to provide accurate, timely information about where people are held in immigration detention. The lawmakers argue that delays in the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) are “effectively creating ‘disappearances’ on U.S. soil” and that in some cases, people are deported before their location is ever entered into the system.
The ODLS has worsened as the Trump administration detains an unprecedented number of people, frequently transfers them between facilities, and holds some in unconventional settings like ICE field offices or the state-run “Alligator Alcatraz.” Some experts have suggested that the issues are intentional, in an attempt to move people away from areas with stronger legal protections or favorable judges. The letter requests that the Inspector General examine the reasons for the reporting gaps and assess the impact these gaps have had on those detained and their families.
Stories of Impact |
| Gabriela: “I live in Bogota as a refugee, and I urge you and your office to support refugees and encourage the Trump administration to fully restore the refugee resettlement program and resume admissions of the most at-risk refugees worldwide. I was accepted as a refugee in December 2023. We were very excitedly waiting for our travel date and underwent medical exams for the third time on January 19, 2025. We were informed that everything was ready to travel as soon as the exams were loaded, but the next day the ban came into effect. We lost our jobs, temporary documents and health insurance. We had to move since we had talked about handing over the house and selling our belongings, leaving our situation in Colombia in limbo. Our family members traveled, leaving our family separated.”
Samuel: “I am a refugee currently residing in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. I am a father of three boys and two girls, and I am writing to express my deep concern about the safety and well-being of myself and my family. I was scheduled to travel to the United States under the refugee resettlement program, with my original flight set for 15th January 2025. Unfortunately, that flight was canceled and rescheduled for 29th January 2025, which did not materialize. Since then, our situation has worsened. My son and I have both been attacked. We are now living in constant fear and uncertainty, as we do not understand the motives of those who attacked us. This violence has left my family traumatized and vulnerable. Our lives are at risk, and we do not feel safe in the camp. I respectfully call upon you to urgently advocate for me and my family’s protection and resettlement. Refugees like us, living in the diaspora, continue to face life-threatening challenges, and without timely intervention, our safety cannot be guaranteed. I plead with you to intervene in this matter and assist in ensuring that my family and I can find safety and live with dignity.” Find more stories of impact here, and watch this space for new stories as they arise. Have a story to share? You can share it with us via this form for refugees overseas or this form for refugees, immigrants and service providers in the U.S. |
