For ads-free news, click here.
From the Associated Press: A federal judge in Seattle on Tuesday blocked President Donald Trump’s suspension of the nation’s refugee admissions system, saying that while the president has broad authority over who comes into the country, he cannot nullify the law passed by Congress establishing the program.
The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by individual refugees whose efforts to resettle in the U.S. have been halted as well as major refugee aid groups, who argued that they have had to lay off staff because the administration froze funding for processing refugee applications overseas as well as support, such as short-term rental assistance for those already in the U.S.
U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead, a 2023 appointee of former President Joe Biden, said after hearing arguments Tuesday that the president’s actions amounted to an “effective nullification of congressional will” in setting up the nation’s refugee admissions program. He promised to offer a fuller rationale in a written opinion in the next few days.
“The president has substantial discretion … to suspend refugee admissions,” Whitehead told the parties. “But that authority is not limitless.”
Whitehead, 46, assumed office in March 2023.
Justifying his ruling, Whitehead said, “I have refugees stranded in dangerous places. I have families who have sold everything they’ve owned in advance of travel, which was canceled. I have spouses and children separated indefinitely from their family members in the U.S., resettlement agencies that have already laid off hundreds of staff. Aren’t these textbook examples of harms that can’t be undone by money damages?”
JUST IN A federal judge in Seattle has *BLOCKED* President Donald Trump’s executive order halting the admission of refugees into the United States.
The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Jamal Whitehead, a Biden appointee, is the first to block Trump’s order indefinitely… pic.twitter.com/aLofMSLFLn
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) February 25, 2025
Elon Musk weighed in Tuesday evening, writing, “If ANY judge ANYWHERE can block EVERY Presidential order EVERYWHERE, we do NOT have democracy, we have TYRANNY of the JUDICIARY.”
If ANY judge ANYWHERE can block
EVERY Presidential order EVERYWHERE,
we do NOT have democracy,
we have TYRANNY of the JUDICIARY.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2025
Seattle Judge Jamal Whitehead today blocked Trump’s refugee ban. He used to make his money with class action suits representing ICE detainees. What a coincidence. He worked at Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, where he regularly represented victims of workplace discrimination and… pic.twitter.com/aPyiZqvOoW
— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) February 25, 2025
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
