USCRI Brief Explainer: Ninth Circuit Order in Pacito v. Trump

This brief explainer summarizes the Ninth Circuit’s September 12, 2025 order in Pacito v. Trump. The ruling indefinitely halts prior injunctions that had paused parts of the Executive Order “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.” As a result, more than 14,000 refugees with previously booked travel, as well as 80 injunction-protected individuals, remain blocked from entry. The order also suspends further case-by-case reviews, while clarifying that the government must maintain cooperative agreements to provide reception and placement services for refugees already admitted. Litigation is ongoing, and the International Refugee Assistance Project may seek further review.