A U.S. federal judge ruled on Monday, May 5, that the Trump administration must let about 12,000 refugees into the country. This decision pushes back against the government’s efforts to change how immigration works in the U.S.

The judge made this decision to clear up confusion from a previous court ruling. That earlier ruling said the government could temporarily stop the refugee program, but it still had to allow people who were already approved as refugees and had travel plans to come to the U.S.

In a recent court case, the Trump administration claimed they only needed to let in 160 refugees who were expected to arrive within two weeks of the January order that stopped the refugee program. But Judge Jamal Whitehead said that was wrong and rejected their argument.

Judge Whitehead had already blocked the order back in February, saying it likely broke the 1980 Refugee Act. But in March, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed his decision, allowing the program to be paused, with some exceptions.

The case was brought to court by refugee support groups like HIAS (a Jewish nonprofit), Church World Service, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest. They said many refugees had already sold their belongings and prepared to move, only to be left stuck because of the new rules.

Coming to the U.S. as a refugee has long been a legal way to eventually become a citizen. Under former President Joe Biden, the program was expanded to help people affected by climate change. But former President Trump supported reducing immigration and even used military flights to send people back to Latin America.

Now, thanks to this judge’s new ruling, thousands of refugees may get another chance to come to the U.S. and start new lives.