The Trump administration has introduced a policy that could subject tens of thousands of refugees to detention if they fail to obtain permanent residency within their first year in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) instructs refugees applying for green cards to report for review or risk being taken into custody.
The policy reverses earlier guidance that did not treat delays in green card applications as grounds for deportation. DHS officials stated the measure aims to prevent immigration fraud, identify potential security threats, and vet individuals for criminal histories. The memo notes that “this detain-and-inspect requirement ensures that refugees are re-vetted after one year, aligns post-admission vetting with that applied to other applicants for admission, and promotes public safety.”
The policy is part of an ongoing federal lawsuit in Minnesota over arrests under Operation PARRIS, a review of 5,600 refugees without green cards. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim temporarily blocked further detentions, noting that the refugees had been extensively vetted and posed no danger.
