The Trump administration has ordered immigration authorities to detain certain refugees who entered the US legally but have not obtained permanent residency after one year, significantly expanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement's powers overpeople already granted protection.
The move, detailed in a government memo dated 18 February and obtained by CBS News, marks a shift in how the US treats refugees who were admitted after extensive overseas vetting but have yet to convert their status to that of a lawful permanent resident with a so‑called green card.
Under US law, refugees are admitted after demonstrating they face persecution in their home countries on grounds such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.
They may apply for a green card one year after arrival, but there has previously been no automatic detention linked to missing that milestone.
The directive, signed by acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, instructs officers to return such refugees to government custody so their cases can be reviewed and re‑screened.
The memo states that refugees who have not adjusted to lawful permanent resident status a year after their admission must either appear voluntarily at an immigration office for inspection or face arrest and detention by ICE if they do not comply.
'[The Department of Homeland Security] must treat the one-year mark as a mandatory re-vetting point for all refugees who have not adjusted to [Lawful Permanent Resident] status, ensuring either that they are scheduled to 'return' to custody for inspection or, if they do not comply, that they be 'returned' to custody through enforcement action,' the document says.
The new guidance authorises ICE to 'maintain custody' of affected refugees 'for the duration of the inspection and examination process.' According to officials, that review is intended to determine whether any refugees obtained status through fraud or now pose a threat to national security or public safety, including through alleged ties to terrorism or serious criminal records.
Refugees flagged during this process may be stripped of their legal status and placed in deportation proceedings, the memo states.
A USCIS spokesperson, asked about the change, said the administration was 'implementing law as written by Congress.'
Source: International Business Times UK
