International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)

We’re suing the Trump administration to protect refugees. Refugees did everything the law asked. Now the U.S. government is freezing their green card applications, re-vetting them, and giving them just 10 days to defend their status.We’re going to court to stop it refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

BREAKING: Trump admin lays groundwork for mass deportation of resettled refugees. "This regulation represents another escalation against immigrants with lawful status and these tactics lay the groundwork for the mass de-documentation and deportation of refugees.” refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

NEW: The 10th Circuit issued a decision upholding the due process rights of refugees targeted by the U.S. government. "Refugee status is a matter of life or death... judicial review is critical to ensuring refugees are not sent back to danger without due process." Full statement:

NEW: The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Trump administration's request to apply the travel ban to the family members of asylees. “We are overjoyed that asylees will continue to be able to reunite with their families in safety in the U.S. as a result of this decision.” - Lupe Aguirre, IRAP

BREAKING: The new Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions continues to prioritize refugee admissions for white Afrikaners while blocking vulnerable refugee populations from resettlement. refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

Happening now!

TODAY: IRAP VP of U.S. Legal Programs Laurie Ball Cooper will testify before the Minnesota Truth Council about the Trump admin's unlawful targeting of resettled refugees during Operation PARRIS. Watch our testimony around 3:30 ET/2:30 CT: www.youtube.com/@MinnesotaTr...

IRAP is launching the Immigration Solutions Accelerator, a strategic policy and advocacy shop dedicated to advancing lawful pathways rooted in the rights of displaced people. Stay updated at refugeerights.org/immigration-solutions-accelerator

Today, IRAP Europe filed a complaint to the European Commission against Austria over its new law restricting the rights of refugees to family reunification, which violates EU law and will needlessly keep refugee families separated. Full press release: refugeerights.org?post_type=ne...

August marks 5 years since the end of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Today, IRAP released an explainer about how the U.S. government has increasingly turned its back on Afghan refugees, including those who risked their lives to support the U.S. mission:

BREAKING: A federal court allows termination of #TPS to proceed for nearly 4,000 people from Burma. “I am devastated by the court’s ruling and terrified of what will happen if I’m forced to return to Burma." - Plaintiff Thura Doe Read the full press release from IRAP and @aaldef.bsky.social:

Must-read overview of IRAP's court win from @dangooding.bsky.social in @newsweek.com. "The ruling represents one of the most significant judicial setbacks to the administration's travel restrictions since Trump reinstated and expanded country-based entry bans in 2025."

BREAKING: A federal judge just ruled Trump's travel ban doesn’t apply to asylum-seekers, and ordered the U.S. government to reunite Afghan asylees with family members. Read the full press release:

Many Syrian and Haitian #TPS holders have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade. Now they face losing work authorization and potential detention and deportation to danger. Congress must pass the Dream and Promise Act and the TPS Review Act. refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

Last month, a U.S. senator warned that the Trump administration planned to deport 500 unaccompanied children. This month, reporting shows it has plans to relocate tens of thousands of unaccompanied kids to Texas. The Trump administration is attacking immigrant children on all fronts.🧵⤵️

Last week, our team joined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, Communities United for Status and Protection (CUSP), and Muslim Advocates to help TPS holders understand what the Supreme Court's recent decision means for them.

"Today’s decision is catastrophic for Syrian and Haitian TPS holders, the country, and the rule of law. Congress must act swiftly to restore TPS protections before this decision endangers 1.3 million of our neighbors.” - Lupe Aguirre, IRAP Full statement: refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

ICYMI: IRAP partnered with @refugepoint.bsky.social and @hias.org to share lessons learned from the Equitable Resettlement Access Consortium (ERAC). The report explores how community-based, refugee-led, and NGO partnerships can help make resettlement systems more equitable and accessible.

Hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders are waiting to see if SCOTUS will allow the Trump admin to end their ability to live and work legally in the United States. @huffpost.com spoke to Syrian TPS holders about why we need to #ProtectTPS:

22 of the 39 countries facing U.S. entry restrictions are among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, as are many whose nationals are at risk of losing #TPS. Read more about IRAP's work protecting climate-displaced people in @theguardian.com:

Almost one year ago, 400+ people from around the United States & the world signed the #WeWillWelcome pledge. Now, we want to celebrate YOU! Submit the act of welcome you completed! ⬇️ tiny.cc/WeWillWelcom... Want to join? Sign the #WeWillWelcome pledge! ⬇️ bit.ly/WelcomingPle...

After President Trump's #RefugeeBan stranded countless refugees abroad, the @newyorker.com came to Jordan to meet IRAP's clients. These are their stories. IRAP continues to fight in court and on the ground to support refugees and ensure they can find a safe place to call home.

Earlier this week during our virtual press event, @irap.bsky.social's Staff Attorney Megan Hauptman didn't mince words: "From refugees to DACA recipients to TPS holders, the government doesn't care about legal status or humanity. Everyone is a target."

ICYMI: IRAP President Sharif Aly published an op-ed in @thehill.com about the stakes in yesterday's SCOTUS case to #ProtectTPS for 1.3 million people. "The administration is seeking to abandon not only those in need but also the rule of law itself."

On a day when SCOTUS dealt a heavy blow to our multiracial democracy, it was nevertheless a day of hope and joy as immigrants and advocates rallied to represent the 1.3 million Temporary Protected Status holders who want only to be allowed to live with dignity and in safety. #ProtectTPS #TPSjustice

BREAKING: Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two class action lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s attempts to terminate TPS for hundreds of thousands of people from Syria and Haiti. #ProtectTPS Read the press release from the legal teams: refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

"Ending TPS would be the largest de-documentation effort in US history, but the administration won't stop there if the court gives them the green light to run roughshod over our laws," said Megan Hauptman, @irap.bsky.social Staff Attorney. Watch her full remarks ⬇️

Leading legal experts, affected community members, and advocates gathered on a press call for media to highlight the stakes and implications of the TPS cases before the Supreme Court on April 29th. Join the effort to #ProtectTPS Full recording of the call: refugeerights.org/wp-content/u...

Today, we hosted a press call with legal experts and impacted community members about our efforts to #ProtectTPS before the Supreme Court. Quotes and a recording of the call are available on our website: refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

A recent @nytimes report on Trump admin DHS officials included this revealing quote on the Admin’s attempts to terminate TPS. On April 29, we’re fighting for TPS before the Supreme Court! #ProtectTPS

Thank you @nilc.org for sharing these powerful stories! #ProtectTPS

If you are a refugee living in the United States, you may have questions about what your status means and how to protect yourself and those you love. This resource from @irap.bsky.social takes a deep dive into questions you may have. Learn more👇

NEW: Refugees are challenging the Trump admin's discriminatory preference for Afrikaners in court “USRAP has been transformed into a discriminatory entity serving a 95% white population at the expense of refugees who have waited years for the chance to safely resettle in the United States."

HAPPENING THIS MORNING! 🏛️ The Supreme Court is considering a case with major implications for the rights of people seeking safety at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Just as we previously blocked the Trump administration from terrorizing refugees in Minnesota, we have now stopped this policy of illegal arrest and detention from being carried out on a national scale." - Laurie Ball Cooper, IRAP Read more: refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

“They are looking for every way to make the undocumented population as enormous as possible. It’s the great de-legalization campaign, rendering vulnerable to detention and removal millions of people who were not here unlawfully." - Ghita Schwarz, U.S. Litigation Director at IRAP

BREAKING: Today, the Supreme Court decided to consolidate two separate lawsuits challenging the termination of TPS for Syria and Haiti respectively and scheduled oral arguments for the end of April. Read our press release: refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

Must-watch @pbsnews.org segment about the Trump administration's attacks on refugees and immigrants with legal status:

Join us on March 11 for a webinar explaining the current situation for refugees in Minnesota and their ongoing lawsuit. Live interpretation will be available in Somali and Dari. Join at bit.ly/webinar-mn