KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A U.S. federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending the U.S. refugee resettlement program, ruling that it exceeded his authority and violated congressional laws.
According to NBC News, U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead ruled that while the president has broad authority over immigration, he cannot override the congressional law that established the refugee program.
“The president has substantial discretion to suspend refugee admissions. But that authority is not limitless,” Whitehead said. “He cannot ignore Congress’ detailed framework for refugee admissions and the limits it places on the president’s ability to suspend the same,” he added.
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by refugee assistance groups, who argued that Trump’s order disrupted the legal system established by Congress in 1980 to resettle refugees fleeing war, natural disasters, or persecution. The lawsuit also highlighted the order’s impact on refugees already in the U.S. and those waiting to enter.
Shortly after taking office last month, Trump signed an executive order halting refugee resettlement, including for Afghan citizens. The order affected more than 200,000 Afghans—among them, relatives of Afghan American service members and individuals who fought alongside U.S. forces during America’s two-decade war in Afghanistan.
Trump’s order has drawn backlash from lawmakers, advocates, and Afghans awaiting resettlement. Many warn of dire consequences for those who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and now face the risk of Taliban retaliation.
Earlier, several members of Congress—including Republican Rep. Michael McCaul—urged the Trump administration to reconsider the decision, emphasizing the need to honor America’s commitment to its “Afghan allies.”
“We promised them we would protect them when they worked with our servicemen and women in Afghanistan. These are the interpreters, the ones who were right alongside our combat veterans. They have these special immigrant visas, and it’s my view that they should be able to go forward with the SIV program,” McCaul said.
“Leaving our Afghan partners behind is something the US needs to fix,” he emphasized.
