FILE PHOTO: People protest against planned Trump administration cuts to the U.S. refugee resettlement program, in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S., October 15, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
(Reuters) -A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Donald Trump's effort to indefinitely suspend the U.S. refugee resettlement program, saying the Republican had exceeded his executive authority by abruptly shutting down the program.
U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead in Seattle, in ruling for a coalition of U.S. refugee backers who sued to challenge Trump's action, acknowledged that the president had substantial discretion under federal law to suspend refugee admissions.
