Federal Lawsuits

IINE Takes Legal Action Against the Federal Government to Protect Refugees

As the federal administration finds new and unjust ways to threaten the rights, safety, and stability of refugees in our communities, the International Institute of New England is fighting back.

In 2026, we joined two federal lawsuits as organizational plaintiffs to challenge policies that strip refugees of longstanding protections. Read on for the latest information about each lawsuit and how you can support this critical work.

PANA et al. v. USCIS: New Lawsuit Challenges Policies That Strip Refugees of Legal Protections

Updated: 10/26/26

IINE, along with refugee advocacy organizations and four individual plaintiffs, represented by Democracy Forward and the International Refugee Assistance Project, has filed a federal lawsuit, PANA et al v. USCIS, challenging three sweeping new policies from the Trump-Vance administration that block lawfully admitted refugees from obtaining permanent residency, subject them to mass re-vetting, and make it easier for the federal government to terminate their refugee status.

The lawsuit challenges actions by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that dramatically rewrite longstanding immigration protections. For decades, the government could terminate refugee status only with 30 days’ notice and an opportunity to respond. The Trump-Vance administration’s new policies instead let the government revoke refugee status with only 10 days’ notice. Those unable to defend themselves in this shortened period are subject to removal and detention.

Why This Matters

By legal definition, a refugee is anyone who is unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of “persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution” due to race, membership in a particular social group, political opinion, religion, or national origin. The vetting and admissions process to come to the U.S. as a refugee is extremely rigorous and often takes years. When our government admits refugees to the U.S., they do so with the promise of a safer and brighter future. Now, thousands of refugees are not only blocked from moving forward on their path to citizenship but may suddenly lose work authorization, be put in removal proceedings, and face potentially indefinite detention and separation from their families and communities.

What Happens Next

The plaintiffs ask the court to block the challenged policies while litigation proceeds, including by issuing an immediate administrative stay of the new refugee status termination rule. The lawsuit also seeks to permanently invalidate the unlawful policies.

IINE will continue to stand alongside refugees and our partners to defend the rights and protections of people who came to the U.S. seeking what we all want and deserve: a safe place to call home.

Read the full press release about the lawsuit here.

Jean A. et al v. Noem: Federal Court Blocks Unlawful Refugee Detention Policy

Updated: 3/23/26

In a separate federal lawsuit, Jean A. et al v. Noem, the International Institute of New England, along with six refugee plaintiffs and Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, has secured a major court victory, blocking a sweeping Department of Homeland Security policy that ordered the warrantless arrest and potentially indefinite detention of lawfully admitted refugees

In a ruling issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the court halted enforcement of the federal administration’s so-called “Refugee Detention Policy,” finding that refugees and resettlement agencies would suffer irreparable harm and are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims. The Department of Homeland Security is prohibited from enforcing the policy while the case continues.

Why This Matters

The challenged policy targets refugees who have lived in the United States for more than one year but have not yet received permanent residency—often because of government backlogs beyond their control.

Federal law allows refugees to obtain legal permanent residency only after being physically present in the U.S. for one year. In addition, by law, refugee status does not expire. For decades, government policy has confirmed that delays in green card processing are not grounds for punishment. The proposed Refugee Detention Policy attempted to reverse more than 45 years of practice and violated constitutional protections. Refugees—who endure years of security and background checks before being admitted to the U.S.—should not have to live in fear.

The court’s order upholds longstanding protections and protects the rights of refugees across the country.

What Happens Next

While this ruling is a critical step forward, the case is ongoing. IINE and our partners remain committed to ensuring that this unlawful policy is permanently blocked and that refugees are protected from future harm.

Read the full press release about the court ruling here.