The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sued the Trump administration on Tuesday, asking a federal judge to order the State Department to restart the taxpayer money that the bishops say they need in order to help refugees.
The bishops said they were giving assistance to some 6,700 refugees when President Trump shut off the government spigot with an executive order putting federal grants on hold.
Now the bishops conference says it has had to dig into its own coffers and begin layoffs for 50 employees to make ends meet.
They said their “reputation” is on the line, as well as the well-being of the refugees.
“Refugees who have already entered the United States may soon be cut off from support, contravening the statutorily expressed will of Congress and making it more difficult for them to establish themselves as productive members of society,” the bishops argued.
They said the funding pause violates several parts of U.S. law, as well as usurps Congress’ power to control spending.
Refugees are those fleeing persecution from abroad. As part of America’s humanitarian mission, Congress sets aside money to pay nongovernmental organizations to help the refugees gain footing once they’re here. They’re entitled to 90 days of assistance.
The bishops say they’ve been working with the feds on refugees dating back to World War II, saying it’s a biblical mandate, found in the Gospel of Matthew’s admonition (25:35-40) to feed the hungry and welcome the stranger.
Upon taking office Mr. Trump suspended refugee resettlement, saying the U.S. had been “inundated” by too many newcomers over the last four years.
“The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees,” Mr. Trump said.
But the letter to the bishops shutting off money cited an executive order pausing foreign aid. The bishops said that was odd because the refugee program is domestic spending, going to those already here.
The bishops said the government assistance doesn’t cover all the costs of the refugee services and the USCCB and its affiliates spend their own money, too. But they said the federal funds are critical.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the District of Columbia, asks a judge to restore refugee spending and reimburse the bishops for the costs they’ve already incurred while making up the shortfall.
America’s bishops have been at odds with Mr. Trump from his first days in office, with immigration serving as a major flashpoint.
El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz, who heads USCCB’s migration committee, complained that the president’s early directives “are specifically intended to eviscerate humanitarian protections” for illegal immigrants and would leave children to face “grave danger.”
He complained about Mr. Trump deploying more U.S. troops to the border — a move made by every previous president dating back to George H.W. Bush in the late 1980s — and urged the administration to be more relaxed in how it enforced the law.
That drew a rebuke from Vice President J.D. Vance, a self-described devout Catholic, who said he was “heartbroken” by what he saw as unfair criticism.
“Are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?” he said last month.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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