Trump capped the annual national refugee cap this fiscal year at an astounding low. In 2016, that number was 110,000. The sitting president dropped it to the absurd number of 18,000.
Over 100 local government and 42 governors so far to provide letters of acceptance. Three refugee resettlement agencies that have worked in tandem with the State Department to assist them with resettling refugees of war and persecution offshore. They sued.
White House attorneys called this approach “comment sense [for] enhanced consultation” with local governments. Yet, the commander-in-chief dropped the issue of immigration right on the head of one of his top aides Stephen Miller. The aide has a history of endorsing White Nationalists and has implemented dracion policies that riveled some of the worst in history.
Vice-Chair of the Burleigh North Dakota County Commission Kathleen Jones was pleased with a federal judge’s order. However, she knew that in another year, everything would have to be addressed again, according to The Washington Post:
‘In one word, it’s “Hallelujah. I really feel that the Trump administration had no business sticking their nose into this.’
Another Burleigh county commissioner Brian Bitner was disappointed that this ruling took the states’ plans on refugee resettlement away from them:
‘I would feel disappointed if we went through all this trouble time and effort for nothing. Seems like that would have been a big waste of time.’
State and local officials cannot block refugee admissions in their jurisdictions, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, finding the Trump administration’s new refugee policy is likely “unlawful” and “does not appear to serve the overall public interest.”
U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte from Maryland halted Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily. It would require governors and local officials across the country to agree they would welcome the refugees with open arms. He said:
‘Giving states and local governments the power to consent to the resettlement of refugees — which is to say veto power to determine whether refugees will be received in their midst — flies in the face of clear Congressional intent.’
Messitte asked:
‘Is there any limit to what you can do in an executive order? You’re sort of making it up as you go along?’
The judge continued, noting that the president’s veto power was:
‘[A]rbitrary and capricious as well as inherently susceptible to hidden bias. One is left to wonder exactly what the rationale is for doing away entirely with a process that has worked so successfully for so long. And why now?’
President of the Lutheran Immigration Refugees Service Krish O’Mara Vignarajah worked with the suing organizations. She said that the judge’s “[injunction] provided critical relief” as was “lifesaving work:”
“Those who have been waiting for years to reunite with their families and friends will no longer have to choose between their loved ones and the resettlement services that are so critical in their first months as new Americans.’
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.