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Original Date Announced
September 26, 2019The President, through Executive Order 13888, directs the State Department and Health and Human Services to develop a plan, within 90 days, providing that refugees will only be resettled in states and localities that have consented in writing to receive refugees. [ID #106]
Enhancing State and Local Involvement in Refugee ResettlementEffective Date
September 26, 2019Subsequent Trump-Era and Court Action(s)
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January 15, 2020
Opinion Granting Motion for Preliminary Injunction in HIAS v. Trump
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking Executive Order 13888 in HIAS v. Trump (D. Maryland, 8:19-cv-3346). The Fourth Circuit heard oral argument in the government's appeal on Oct. 27, 2020.
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January 8, 2021
Hias v. Trump, No. 20-1160 (4th Cir., Jan. 8, 2021)
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the District Court's preliminary injunction prohibiting enforcement of the order.
**Litigation is listed for informational purposes and is not comprehensive. For the current status of legal challenges, check other sources.**
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Biden Administration Action: Revoked/Replaced
February 4, 2021Executive Order on Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration
This Biden administration policy revokes in its entirety the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.
On 2/4/21, President Biden issued an Executive Order revoking certain past presidential actions on refugee admissions and resettlement (including Presidential Memorandum 13888 of September 26, 2017) and directing government agencies to take steps to improve the refugee program; including to create a plan to address processing backlogs, to complete a review of the Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa programs, and to submit a report on climate change and its impact on migration.
View DocumentCurrent Status
Not in effectMost Recent Action
February 4, 2021 Action: Revoked/Replaced Executive Order on Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on MigrationFebruary 4, 2021Acted on by Biden Administration
Original Trump Policy Status
Trump Administration Action: Presidential OrdersSubject Matter: RefugeesAgencies Affected: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration USCIS ORR State & Local EntitiesPre Trump-Era Policies
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September 14, 2015
Under previous administrations, the State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) has coordinated the admission and allocations of refugees to specific cities and resettlement agencies, in conjunction with national voluntary agencies that oversee a network of some 250 affiliates in 49 states plus the District of Columbia through the Reception & Placement Program. The HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement has been tasked with ensuring refugees are placed in locations where there are appropriate services and resettlement conditions but there were no geographic limitations on where refugees were resettle internally within the United States.
The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program – an Overview