The most liberal circuit court in the country delivered a surprise victory to the Trump Administration today.
As Politico reported, a three judge panel for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked an order by a district court judge in Seattle that would have forced the Trump Administration to restart refugee admissions. Trump can now continue with his pause on all new refugee admissions.
Politico notes that the administration must still process refugees approved before January 20. The ruling notes that Trump’s executive order had nothing to do with those refugees.
Bill Clinton and Joe Biden appointed two of the judges, Barry Silverman and Ana De Alba. The other judge, Bridget Bade, was appointed President Trump.
Here is the ruling:
Credit: Kyle Cheney
The Gateway Pundit reported last month that District Judge Jamal Whitehead, a Biden appointee in Seattle, blocked Trump’s attempts to stop the federal refugee resettlement program, which has been abused for years by Democrat administrations and refugees themselves.
Two months ago, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14155, titled “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” which suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) effective January 27, 2025.
This order stopped refugees from entering America and barred federal funding to organizations assisting refugees, including those already in the country. The suspension was to remain in effect until a determination was made that resuming the program was aligned with U.S. interests.
In his ruling, Whitehead said that Trump’s actions were an “effective nullification of congressional will” in setting up the nation’s refugee admissions program.
“The president has substantial discretion … to suspend refugee admissions,” Whitehead wrote. “But that authority is not limitless.”
Whitehead wanted to let potentially dangerous refugees into America. But his ruling was too much even for the leftist 9th Circuit Court.
