A federal judge outlined a new refugee admissions policy for the U.S., despite the termination of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. This is a result of a lawsuit challenging the sudden dismantling of the program. The decision is a potential benchmark that similar cases can leverage in the future.

The termination of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program affected about 20,300 people. Individuals approved under the program are no longer able to enter the U.S. A plaintiff filed a lawsuit challenging the termination. They argued the sudden termination of the program resulted in an insufficient warning fir those currently migrating to the U.S. via the program.

In the decision, the judge states the government must identify all refugees enrolled in the program as clear for travel to the U.S. within seven days. The government must then conduct a standardized survey to determine if each individual was adversely affected by the Refugee program’s sudden termination. The government must process and resettle refugees it deems adversely affected. The decision gives refugees a way of entering the U.S. despite the program’s termination. Those deemed having a reliant interest on the program can then enter the country.

An executive order issued on January 20, 2025, terminated the program. A federal judge then issued an injunction on enforcing the order. The block applies to individuals approved under the program and had concrete travel plans when the executive order was signed, per a Ninth Circuit Court panel decision. The establishment of new U.S. refugee admission guidelines means the injunction is now able to go into effect.

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