The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has filed a federal lawsuit against two U.S. government agencies, alleging an unlawful suspension of refugee resettlement funds. The suit, lodged Tuesday in D.C. federal court, claims the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) froze funding without due process, leaving thousands of refugees in limbo.
Refugee Program Abruptly Halted
The USCCB said it received only a “cursory, two-page letter” from PRM notifying them that their resettlement assistance agreements had been suspended. The letter referenced a recent executive order and vaguely suggested the program no longer aligned with State Department priorities, according to the complaint.
“The consequences of the refugee funding suspension have been predictably devastating for USCCB and the 6,700 refugees it supports,” the lawsuit states. The 90-day transitional period—a crucial phase for newly arrived refugees—was thrown into chaos, as millions of dollars in pending reimbursements for services already rendered remain unpaid. Meanwhile, costs continue to skyrocket, with no sign of when, or if, the program will resume.
