2017-02-20

Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: A church is suing the Trump administration, claiming it can't perform one of its religious duties. That duty is resettling refugees, and the suit comes from the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia in Washington state. Will James of member station KNKX reports. WILL JAMES, BYLINE: At the diocese refugee resettlement office in Seattle, women in headscarves are gathered for an English class. A mother of three from Somalia sits down with her caseworker and finds out her social security card has come in the mail. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: It came today. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #2: It came today. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: I've been waiting to tell you that it came today. So... (SOUNDBITE OF CHEERING) JAMES: The card means she can get a job. The U.S. government relies on religious groups to resettle many of the people who come here fleeing persecution. This Episcopal diocese helps about 200 refugees a year build a life in the Puget Sound region from

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