What’s New?
Pacito v. Trump
In Pacito v. Trump, the lawsuit challenging the administration’s refugee ban, the previous compliance order requiring case-by-case refugee assessments has been put on hold after the government appealed, citing its burdensome nature. Despite ongoing restrictions, some protected refugees, including lead plaintiff Pacito and his family, arrived in the U.S. in July.
In the same lawsuit, the District Court for the Western District of Washington granted class certification to affected refugees. This certification allows the following subclasses of individuals to be represented in the case:
- Refugees awaiting status or family reunification
- Recently resettled refugees
- U.S.-based individuals seeking to reunite with family under the Follow-to-Join program
This is critical following the Supreme Court’s ruling that limited nationwide injunctions to class-action lawsuits.
In a separate filing, the court denied the government's motion to dismiss the case, finding that the plaintiffs adequately established plausibility that the administration violated the Refugee Act, the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and constitutional principles.
What else?
Birthright Citizenship
President Trump’s executive order to restrict birthright citizenship— to children with at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent—is currently blocked from enforcement due to multiple lawsuits, including State of Washington v. Trump and Barbara v. Trump.
Despite the Ninth Circuit Court upholding a nationwide injunction on the executive order on July 23, USCIS published an Implementation Plan on July 25 outlining how the agency intends to implement the executive order if allowed by the courts.
TPS for Afghans Ends, Cameroonian TPS Set to Expire on August 4
As of July 21, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals has officially ended, following a federal appeals court decision that allowed the Trump administration to end protections from deportation for Afghans and Cameroonians. The court declined to block deportations while legal challenges to the termination continue.
TPS for Cameroonian nationals is scheduled to expire on Aug. 4. Unless individuals obtain another legal immigration status, Afghans and Cameroonians losing TPS will also lose their work authorization and protection from removal.
How You Can Help
- Donating – Your gift helps LSSNCA provide housing, job training, and other essential services to refugees.
- Volunteering – Opportunities range from one-day events to longer-term mentorships.
- Amplifying –LSSNCA's legal team has expanded its immigration legal services to include individuals who are not LSSNCA former or current program participants. Share this intake form with those in need of assistance.
