Pacito v. Trump: Court Challenge to the Refugee Admissions (USRAP) Suspension

Status: Partially blocked — Pacito v. Trump (9th Cir. Nos. 25-1313 & 25-1939; W.D. Wash. No. 2:25-cv-00255)

On March 5, 2026, a three-judge Ninth Circuit panel (opinion by Judge Bybee, joined by Judge Clifton; Judge Lee concurring in part and dissenting in part) issued a mixed ruling on the preliminary injunctions. It held the President likely had statutory authority under 8 U.S.C. section 1182(f) to suspend refugee entry under Executive Order 14163 and to pause decisions on pending applications, and it reversed the district court's injunctions to the extent they blocked those steps. At the same time, it affirmed the injunction requiring the government to keep providing the statutorily mandated domestic resettlement (reception and placement) services owed to refugees already admitted, finding the cutoff was likely unlawful and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. The result is a partial block: the admissions suspension may proceed, but the government must continue domestic resettlement services. The underlying lawsuit continues in the district court.

Next step: A bench trial on the merits is scheduled for September 8, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Verified against the primary source as of 2026-07-25 — status can change with a single court ruling. Official source.

What’s happening

On March 5, 2026, a three-judge Ninth Circuit panel (opinion by Judge Bybee, joined by Judge Clifton; Judge Lee concurring in part and dissenting in part) issued a mixed ruling on the preliminary injunctions. It held the President likely had statutory authority under 8 U.S.C. section 1182(f) to suspend refugee entry under Executive Order 14163 and to pause decisions on pending applications, and it reversed the district court’s injunctions to the extent they blocked those steps. At the same time, it affirmed the injunction requiring the government to keep providing the statutorily mandated domestic resettlement (reception and placement) services owed to refugees already admitted, finding the cutoff was likely unlawful and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. The result is a partial block: the admissions suspension may proceed, but the government must continue domestic resettlement services. The underlying lawsuit continues in the district court.

Who it affects

Refugees who have already arrived in the United States, especially those resettled within the last 90 days, remain entitled to the domestic reception and placement services (housing help, cash assistance, case management) that the court preserved. Refugees who were approved before the suspension but had not yet entered generally cannot complete travel while the admissions pause stands. U.S.-based petitioners in the Follow-to-Join (Form I-730) family reunification process, and the case’s three certified classes, are also affected. This is a preliminary-injunction ruling, not a final decision on the program’s legality.

How it got here

  1. Jan 20, 2025 President Trump signs Executive Order 14163, "Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program," suspending refugee entry under USRAP effective January 27, 2025.
  2. Feb 10, 2025 Complaint filed in the Western District of Washington by refugee resettlement agencies and individual refugees challenging the suspension.
  3. Feb 28, 2025 District court grants a first preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the refugee admissions suspension.
  4. Mar 24, 2025 District court grants a second preliminary injunction ordering the government to restore terminated resettlement cooperative agreements and funding.
  5. Sep 12, 2025 Ninth Circuit issues an interim opinion staying both preliminary injunctions pending appeal.
  6. Mar 5, 2026 Ninth Circuit affirms in part and reverses in part: it upholds presidential authority to suspend refugee admissions but requires the government to continue domestic resettlement (reception and placement) services for already-admitted refugees.
  7. Sep 8, 2026 Bench trial on the merits scheduled in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

What to watch next

A bench trial on the merits is scheduled for September 8, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Official sources

This page is general information about ongoing litigation, not legal advice. A case’s status can change with a single ruling, and outcomes can turn on facts specific to each person. For advice on a specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.