California Attorney General Rob Bonta, in collaboration with 18 other state attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in Pacito v. Trump challenging the Trump Administration’s suspension of refugee entry and application processing, as well as the stop-work orders affecting refugee resettlement agencies. The coalition argues that these actions are unlawful, misrepresent the interests of states, and undermine efforts to successfully integrate refugees into American communities.
“The foundation of our nation was built by people seeking a better life away from persecution,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Refugees are not a burden — they’re a benefit to states. Refugees contribute to our communities both socially and economically as business owners, doctors, teachers, and neighbors. In California alone, we’re home to around 50,000 refugee entrepreneurs who generate an estimated $1.9 billion in business income. The Trump Administration’s actions directly hinder our efforts to welcome and support refugees.”
The brief highlights the economic and social contributions refugees make to their new communities. Across the U.S., refugees are welcomed each year into states that provide vital resources to help them adjust and thrive. During Trump’s first term, an executive order required states to opt in to refugee resettlement, with 42 states and over 100 mayors choosing to participate despite the order being temporarily blocked.
The coalition argues that the Refugee Ban, which suspends all refugee entry and application processing indefinitely, is unlawful. It conflicts with the Refugee Act of 1980, which stipulates that certain refugees, such as the spouses and children of those already admitted, must be allowed entry. The Refugee Funding Suspension, which halts federal funding to resettlement agencies, prevents those agencies from fulfilling their responsibilities to provide essential services and ensure refugees’ self-sufficiency.
The attorneys general urge the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington to grant a preliminary injunction to block these actions. They assert that both the Refugee Ban and Funding Suspension undermine state efforts to support refugee assimilation, depriving them of essential services and hindering their successful integration.
Attorney General Bonta’s coalition includes attorneys general from Washington, Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
