FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a
coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Ninth Circuit in Pacito v. Trump, supporting a challenge to Executive Order 14163, which
indefinitely suspended the entry of refugees through the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program
(USRAP) and effectively dismantled USRAP’s infrastructure by terminating agreements and
funding for resettlement agencies.
“Refugees who live in Maryland don’t just contribute significantly to our economy – as our
neighbors, coworkers, and friends, they are essential parts of the fabric of our communities
across our State,” said Attorney General Brown. “We will do whatever we can to fight this
unlawful attack on Maryland families who just want to live in peace and safety as they rebuild
their lives in their new home.”
The attorneys general argue that the President’s Executive Order is unlawful because it ignores
the Immigration and Nationality Act, which stipulates that in order to suspend the entry of a
specific class of people, there must be a finding that those individuals are detrimental to the
national interest. The President’s Order includes no findings specific to USRAP refugees, who
are legally admitted to the country, authorized to work, and have undergone rigorous vetting.
The attorneys general also claim that the President’s Order is illegal because cutting off federal
funding for resettlement organizations directly impedes those agencies’ ability to fulfill their
statutorily mandated requirement to meet the basic needs of refugees. Notably, the President’s
Order undercuts Congressional intent to ensure newly arrived refugees can become economically
self-sufficient and successfully integrate into communities where they live. The attorneys general
assert the Executive Order has caused enormous public harm for refugees already living in states
across the country.
Additionally, the attorneys general refute the President’s claim that USRAP refugees are a
“burden” and instead contend that such individuals are a benefit to their states. In fact, the
attorneys general argue that their states have made active decisions to welcome refugees, who,
between 2005 and 2019, contributed $124 billion more to the federal government than they
consumed in public services and $92.3 billion more to state and local governments.
In their brief, the attorneys general assert that lower courts were correct in issuing two
preliminary injunctions against the President’s unlawful Order and ask the Court to uphold those
injunctions, which prevent the Administration from enforcing and implementing the Order.
Joining Attorney General Brown in filing the brief, are the attorneys general of Massachusetts,
Washington, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine,
Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and
Wisconsin.
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