US Conference of Catholic Bishops sues Trump over immigration, refugee funding freeze

President Trump is once again facing opposition from the Catholic Church as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops filed a news lawsuit this week.

Pope Francis and various Catholic groups have criticized President Donald Trump's immigration policies. (TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images/ Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration issued a suspension letter for the program soon after Trump entered office, though the USCCB argues the letter made clear that the department would reimburse the USCCB for its work up to Jan. 24.

DOGE SAYS IT FOUND NEARLY UNTRACEABLE BUDGET LINE ITEM RESPONSIBLE FOR $4.7T IN PAYMENTS

The USCCB lawsuit argues both that it has not received reimbursement up to Jan. 24, and that it is illegal for the Trump administration to unilaterally cut off congressionally approved funding.

The conference noted that the funding freeze has forced them to begin off-rolling 50 of its employees focused on refugee resettlement.

Elon Musk is leading Trump's cost-cutting efforts in the federal government. (AP Images)

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But the judge said that Trump officials failed to explain why a "blanket suspension" of foreign aid programs was necessary before the programs were more thoroughly reviewed. 

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-conference-catholic-bishops-sues-trump-over-immigration-refugee-funding-freeze