Church World Service hopeful after federal judge blocks Trump ban on refugees

• By Brett Sholtis/LNP | LancasterOnline

A federal judge on Tuesday declared that the Trump administration cannot prevent refugees from being allowed into the U.S. while a related court case is being argued. The legal action gives a glimmer of hope to Church World Service Lancaster and people living in Lancaster County who seek to be reunited with family still residing overseas.

U.S. District Court Judge Jamal Whitehead, whose court is in Seattle, filed a preliminary injunction stating that the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is permitted to continue doing its work until the case before him, Pacito v. Trump, is resolved.

The lawsuit challenges the validity of a Jan. 20 Trump administration executive order that indefinitely halted the federal program.

Church World Service is one of the plaintiffs in the case, filed Feb. 10. Others include International Refugee Assistance Project, HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and several people who were affected by the executive order.

Church World Service President and CEO Rick Santos said he feels “validated” by the measure but knows that “there are miles to go before refugees, separated families, and our communities can be reassured that the United States remains a nation of welcome.”

“Many of those impacted by President Trump’s actions are refugees who have already arrived in our communities,” Santos said in a press release. “Upon arriving in the United States, they are legally entitled to employment services, and social support so that they can get on their feet and become self-sufficient.”

Trump’s executive order also froze federal payments for work conducted by refugee resettlement organizations. That prompted CWS to furlough much of its staff across the U.S. earlier this month — including 65 people in the Lancaster region.

CWS South Central Pennsylvania Director Valentina Ross said she hopes to be able to bring staff back, but it’s too early to call it a victory.

“The court hearing today reaffirms what the Lancaster community has been saying all along – that America wants refugees here, and that we will continue to stand for welcome. However, we know this is just a preliminary injunction – a temporary reprieve as the case works its way through the legal system.”

Trump’s executive order affected local residents who came from some of the world’s most conflict-ridden regions.

Farida Mohammadi, a military veteran who served alongside U.S. Army soldiers, explained that as a result of the executive order, her family in Pakistan could be deported back to Afghanistan, where they likely would face reprisal from the Taliban.

The local community has rallied in support of CWS, organizing an online fundraiser for staff and holding a rally at Penn Square last Sunday followed by a sold out benefit concert at Tellus 360.

Ross said the nonprofit counts on the community “to make our voices heard and bring refugee resettlement back to Lancaster and to the country.”