What's New?
On Thursday evening, the Supreme Court instructed the "government to ‘facilitate’ [Kilmar] Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador.”
Abrego Garcia, a Maryland dad of three, was among the 137 individuals removed to El Salvador’s notorious mega-prison under a 1700s wartime law recently enacted by the President. The U.S. government has admitted his removal was a mistake.
Senators and Representatives have been mounting pressure on the administration to ensure Abrego Garcia returns home. In a recent press conference, Maryland Senator Van Hollen told reporters:
“We demand — we demand — that Kilmar be returned home now. What has happened here should never happen in the United States of America.”
Join the call to bring Abrego Garcia home by signing this petition from our friends at CASA.
In a related legal challenge, J.G.G. v. Trump, the Supreme Court has allowed the administration to continue removing individuals under the wartime law. However, the Court confirmed that individuals facing removal have the right to notice, legal challenge, and judicial review.
What else?
In Pacito v. Trump, a federal judge rejected the administration’s request to avoid reinstating cooperative agreements with resettlement agencies. The judge has yet to rule on the plaintiffs’ request that the court enforce its order that the government resume refugee resettlement and reinstate cooperative agreements. Before this ruling, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops decided not to renew contracts with the government for refugee and children’s services.
Additionally, the administration has revoked the legal status of hundreds of thousands of individuals who lawfully entered the country through the CBP One app. These are families and individuals who were granted parole under the Biden administration, which allows them to remain in the country with a work permit for two years while they await their immigration hearings.
Over the weekend, the U.S. government revoked visas for all South Sudanese nationals. It also stated it would not issue any new visas. The decision came after South Sudan refused to accept repatriated citizens from the United States. South Sudan is at the brink of civil war, per UN officials.
What’s Next?
On Easter Sunday, April 20, a report on the resumption of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by Department of State Secretary Rubio and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem is due to the President. This report is part of the administration’s Executive Order suspending USRAP.
What’s Needed:
Here are three ways you can ensure our communities remain committed to welcoming people seeking safety during this difficult time.
- Attend. Join LSSNCA on April 29 for a virtual Town Hall.
- Advocate. Use this click-to-email tool from RCUSA to urge Congress to support refugees and humanitarian protections.
- Donate. Support LSSNCA’s refugee services disrupted by the administration’s termination of agreements.
What’s Happened - A timeline of events since January 20, 2025.
