A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump holds the authority to suspend refugee admissions to the United States indefinitely, reinforcing a cornerstone of his administration’s tough immigration stance.
The decision came from a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which largely overturned earlier restrictions placed by a lower court that had attempted to block the policy.
At the center of the dispute is the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), the long-standing system through which refugees are vetted and resettled in the United States. Shortly after returning to the White House in 2025, Trump ordered a freeze on the program, arguing that the system needed to ensure newcomers could properly integrate into American society.
The move triggered a sweeping legal challenge brought by refugees, their relatives, and organizations involved in resettlement efforts. A federal judge in Seattle had previously ruled against the suspension, issuing orders aimed at restoring parts of the program while the case moved forward.
The appeals court, however, took a different view.
Writing for the panel, Judge Jay Bybee acknowledged that the ruling carries major real-world consequences. More than 100,000 refugees who had already cleared extensive background checks and conditional approvals may now remain stranded abroad—some after spending years navigating the lengthy screening process.
Many of them had completed nearly every step required to enter the United States, only to find the door abruptly closed.
Despite recognizing those consequences, the court said the outcome hinged on powers granted to the presidency by Congress. Those authorities allow a president to suspend the entry of foreign nationals if deemed necessary.
The panel made clear that evaluating the wisdom of the policy was outside the judiciary’s role.
Not every part of the earlier lower-court ruling was overturned. In a split decision, the panel allowed protections to remain for refugees who had already arrived in the United States. Orders blocking the termination of services for those individuals, along with agreements tied to refugee support operations, will stay in place for now.
Judge Kenneth Lee disagreed with that limited protection, arguing the earlier rulings should have been entirely scrapped.
For refugee advocates, the decision deepens uncertainty for tens of thousands of people still waiting overseas. For the administration, it represents a judicial endorsement of presidential authority over immigration and refugee policy—one that could shape how future administrations handle refugee admissions.
