Immigration and citizenship

Executive Order 13888: Enhancing State and Local Involvement in Refugee Resettlement

President: Donald J. Trump

EO 13888 sought written state and local consent before refugee placement through the federal resettlement program, while retaining statutory consultations and limited exceptions.

Status: Revoked. Is Executive Order 13888 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13888 was revoked. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13888 do?

A Fourth Circuit decision upheld an injunction against its opt-in system. EO 14013 then revoked the order on February 4, 2021 and required agencies to review actions taken under it.

Evidence review, September 23, 2026: The Federal Register index records the later relationship: Revoked by EO 14013. The linked successor text should be read for the exact scope.

Administration position: The Fourth Circuit’s HIAS v. Trump opinion addressed a preliminary injunction, not a final merits judgment on every aspect of refugee law. EO 14013 §2(a) expressly revoked EO 13888.
SignedSeptember 26, 2019
Original directionDevelop the state and local written-consent process for refugee placement
Later evidenceA federal appellate court upheld a preliminary injunction against the consent system; EO 14013 §2(a) later expressly revoked the order.
Review dateSeptember 26, 2026

Before and after

Before the order

The Refugee Act already provided for federal consultation with state and local governments; the order added a written-consent condition to the placement process.

After the order

A federal appellate court upheld a preliminary injunction against the consent system; EO 14013 §2(a) later expressly revoked the order.

The Fourth Circuit’s HIAS v. Trump opinion addressed a preliminary injunction, not a final merits judgment on every aspect of refugee law. EO 14013 §2(a) expressly revoked EO 13888.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
State Department and HHSDevelop the state and local written-consent process for refugee placement2019–2020
Later authorityA federal appellate court upheld a preliminary injunction against the consent system; EO 14013 §2(a) later expressly revoked the order.February 4, 2021

What happened next

EO 13888 signed.

A federal appellate court upheld a preliminary injunction against the consent system; EO 14013 §2(a) later expressly revoked the order.

Guide checked against signed text and cited later primary evidence.

Reviewed court position

Court status

See the court documents in Sources by type.