Trump administration accused of illegally blocking aid to refugees

Seven U.S. states led by California have accused the administration of Donald Trump of illegally blocking an $810 million federal funding package previously approved by the U.S. Congress. The state lawsuit is filed in Federal District Court for the Northern District of California. They demand to recognize the actions of the White house illegal, reports Reuters

The funds were to be used to fund immigration, racial equality and education programs. Most of the money, $567 million, went to support refugees and immigrants in the United States. But, according to the plaintiffs, days before the end of the fiscal year (it ended on September 30), the White House “used a legal ploy” called “pocket cancellation.”.

Mr. Trump has asked Congress to cancel the package. Under the law, Congress has 45 days to think. All this time, the money is frozen and not sent as intended. However, with the fiscal year ending on September 30, Congress did not have time to resolve the issue, and the funds returned to the treasury.

In a statement on the lawsuit, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he was "shocked by President Trump's blatant disregard for the basic constitutional foundations of our government." Just because the president does not like a program does not mean that he can deprive it of funding.” Earlier, Donald Trump said that the funding of such programs contributes to “intensification of illegal migration, increasing racial tensions and inflating alarmist sentiments about the environment.”.

Alena Miklashevskaya