CWS Grateful for U.S. District Court Decision that Refugees with Bona Fide Relationships Cannot be Banned from the U.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2017

CWS GRATEFUL FOR U.S. DISTRICT COURT DECISION THAT REFUGEES WITH BONA FIDE RELATIONSHIPS CANNOT BE BANNED FROM THE U.S.

Washington, D.C. – CWS welcomed the news that Judge James Robart of the ninth federal district court halted a critical aspect of the latest refugee ban, and ruled that “following-to-join” family members and refugees from the 11 countries identified in the latest ban who have a bona fide relationship with an individual or entity in the United States. cannot be banned.

“While we celebrate this decision, we are aware that the lives of tens of thousands of refugees who have been promised safety in the United States are still in limbo,” said Erol Kekic, Executive Director of the CWS Immigration and Refugee Program. “Safety, protection, and non-discrimination should not hinge on having family members in the United States. Resettlement is already the last resort for refugees who cannot return home and cannot rebuild their lives in the country where they first fled. This administration’s continual refugee and Muslim bans and restrictive policies have already jeopardized lives and dismantled the U.S. refugee program, previously a beacon of American values. We stand with these refugees, and urge Congress to do everything in its power to hold the administration accountable to meeting the 45,000 refugee cap, already the lowest cap in U.S. history.”

Since 1946, Church World Service has supported refugees, immigrants and other displaced individuals, in addition to providing sustainable relief and development solutions to communities that wrestle with hunger and poverty. Learn more about our work and join our global homebase for refugee solidarity at GreaterAs1.org.

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