Daily State of Play: Trump’s Indefinite Refugee Ban and Funding Halt


March 6, 2026

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.

   

In this special edition, we will provide more information about yesterday’s ruling in the Pacito v. Trump case, in which CWS and others have challenged the suspension of refugee admissions and services. Below that, find stories of those who continue to be stranded by the ongoing refugee ban. 

On March 5, in a long-awaited decision in Pacito v. Trump, a Ninth Circuit panel largely maintained the status quo and allowed the administration’s indefinite refugee ban to continue unchecked. Here’s what the decision does: 

  • It follows the “preliminary” ruling made by the same panel in September of last year, now formally reversing much of the injunction issued by a lower court that had compelled the resettlement of certain refugees with strong reliance interests who are stranded in the pipeline. Under this decision, the refugee ban that has held up tens of thousands of conditionally approved refugee cases can continue.  
  • This was not a total reversal of the lower court’s injunction. The Ninth Circuit found plaintiffs are “likely to succeed” on parts of their challenge and, as a result, affirmed that the administration must continue providing domestic resettlement services to refugees in the U.S. (a part of the injunction that resulted in the resumption of contracts with resettlement agencies and ongoing services to thousands of refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas). That support must continue under this ruling. 
  • The panel wrote in part: “We recognize the enormous practical implications of this decision. There are over one hundred thousand vetted and conditionally approved refuges, many of whom may have spent years completing the USRAP process in a third country only to be turned away on a tarmac.” 

This decision is not the end of the Pacito lawsuit, nor our broader fight for refugees who have been stranded overseas by the Trump administration’s refugee ban. 

The Pacito v. Trump case continues in the Western District of Washington, where a trial date has been set for September 8 and a series of discovery deadlines and disclosure dates have been announced in the coming months. Before the Ninth Circuit intervened, over 100 stranded refugees (including Pacito himself) were resettled as a result of the suit, and thousands more have been guaranteed access to reception services. 

Church World Service will continue to work toward an end of the refugee ban, and a full restoration of the program to support those most in need around the world. We continue to call for the administration to reverse course and protect those fleeing persecution and violence – and for Congress to pass the NO BAN Act (S. 398 and H.R. 924) and to limit the executive’s authority to implement harmful, prejudicial travel and refugee bans that make our country weaker.  

Read more reactions to the decision in yesterday’s statement from IRAP and plaintiffs in the case.