The Trump administration has introduced a new immigration policy that could lead to the detention of thousands of refugees who have not applied for their green cards after being in the U.S. for at least one year. According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo filed ahead of a federal court hearing in Minnesota, refugees who have not submitted their green card applications within one year of arrival must report back to federal custody for review. DHS stated that it may maintain custody throughout the inspection process.
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The policy, which applies to refugees who have not yet submitted their green card applications despite being eligible, follows a series of actions by the Trump administration to tighten immigration rules. The administration previously lowered refugee admissions and temporarily halted green card approvals for those admitted under the previous administration.
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The move has prompted widespread concern from refugee resettlement groups. Beth Oppenheim, CEO of the nonprofit HIAS, criticized the directive, calling it “a transparent effort to detain and potentially deport thousands of people who are legally present in this country.” Oppenheim added that the refugees “were promised safety and a chance to rebuild their lives.”
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Legal challenges have emerged against the policy. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim recently issued a temporary restraining order that blocked the detention of refugees in Minnesota, ruling that the policy was likely unlawful. Tunheim argued that the government’s stance would create an illogical scenario where most refugees would face detention unless their green card applications were submitted within the required one-year timeframe after arrival.
This new directive is part of a broader immigration crackdown that has drawn protests and sparked controversy over its potential to destabilize refugee communities and strain immigration systems already under pressure. The case continues to unfold as further legal challenges are expected.
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