Refugees from travel ban countries must be allowed to enter US, Seattle judge rules

The Trump administration must allow refugees to enter the United States from countries covered by the president’s travel ban, a federal judge in Seattle ruled Monday.

U.S. District Court Judge Jamal Whitehead’s decision opens the door for around 80 refugees to immediately arrive from countries whose citizens are banned from traveling here.

Whitehead also ruled the Trump administration needs to potentially allow refugees to enter the United States even if their planned travel was postponed before the president took office.

Affected individuals and resettlement organizations, including Lutheran Community Services Northwest in Tacoma, brought the lawsuit after President Donald Trump halted refugee admissions via executive order on his first day in office.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/07/14/refugees-from-travel-ban-countries-must-be-allowed-to-enter-us-seattle-judge-rules/