A federal judge on Thursday rejected the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ request to turn back on the spigot of federal money the government formerly paid outside groups to help settle refugees.
President Trump halted the money as part of broader pushes to rein in the refugee program and international assistance spending.
The Catholic bishops had called the administration’s pause illegal and asked the federal court in Washington to issue a temporary restraining order that would restart the money.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden declined.
“The court finds that Plaintiff has not made the requisite showing and will thus deny plaintiff’s motion to the extent that it requests a temporary restraining order,” he said in a brief order.
He did, however, set a speedy schedule for the bishops to argue for a preliminary injunction, which is a more powerful court remedy.
USCCB filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, saying it and affiliated Catholic organizations throughout the country were assisting some 6,700 refugees when the funding pause hit.
The bishops said they have had to dig deeper into their own pockets to make up the difference to continue their work for those refugees.
USCCB is one of a number of nongovernmental organizations that the federal government has contracted with to help resettle refugees in U.S. communities. USCCB said the funding shutoff hurt its “reputation,” as well as the well-being of the refugees.
“Refugees who have already entered the United States may soon be cut off from support, contravening the statutorily expressed will of Congress and making it more difficult for them to establish themselves as productive members of society,” the bishops argued in their court filing.
The bishops said the government assistance doesn’t cover all the costs of the refugee services and the USCCB and its affiliates spend their own money, too. But they said the federal funds are critical.
Upon taking office Mr. Trump suspended refugee resettlement, saying the U.S. had been “inundated” by too many newcomers over the last four years.
“The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees,” Mr. Trump said.
The bishops have been withering in their criticism of Mr. Trump’s early immigration moves, saying they were “specifically intended to eviscerate humanitarian protections” for illegal immigrants.
Vice President J.D. Vance, a self-described devout Catholic, shot back last month, questioning the bishops’ motive in attacking Mr. Trump for stricter fealty to immigration laws.
“Are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?” Mr. Vance said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.