A federal judge will not temporarily halt her ruling on Indiana's refugee resettlement program. The state will have to provide funding to refugee resettlement organizations while the legal battle over money for resettlement continues.
Indiana's refugee resettlement program funnels federal money to organizations that help resettle refugees in the state.
Gov. Mike Pence announced December that he was suspending that program for Syrian refugees, which cut off money from resettlement groups such as Exodus Immigration. Pence says public safety concerns prompted that action.
Exodus Immigration filed a lawsuit seeking to block Pence's move — and a federal judge last month ruled in its favor. The state is appealing that decision.
In the meantime, Pence asked the judge to halt the effects of her ruling until the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could render its decision. The judge denied that request.
The Attorney General's office says that decision has no impact on its appeal. The ACLU of Indiana, representing Exodus, says it's pleased the judge recognizes that the state can't ban refugees based on their national origin.
The court hasn't announced a timetable to hear the state's appeal.