Washington, United States. The Trump administration has issued a Department of Homeland Security memo giving immigration officers broader authority to detain legally admitted refugees awaiting a green card so they can be “re-vetted.” The memo requires refugees to return to government custody a year after admission for “inspection and examination.”
Memo outlines detain-and-inspect requirement
In a memo dated February 18 and submitted in a federal court filing, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said refugees must return to government custody for inspection and examination one year after their admission into the United States.
“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 department said in the memo.
Under U.S. law, refugees must apply for lawful permanent resident status one year after arriving in the country. The memo authorizes immigration authorities to detain individuals for the duration of the re-inspection process.
Shift from 2010 guidance
The new policy departs from a 2010 memorandum, which stated that failure to obtain lawful permanent resident status was not a “basis” for removal from the country and not a “proper basis” for detention.
The DHS did not respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours.
Advocacy groups criticize directive
The decision prompted criticism from refugee advocacy groups. AfghanEvac’s president Shawn VanDiver called the directive “a reckless reversal of long-standing policy” and said it “breaks faith with people the United States lawfully admitted and promised protection.”
HIAS, formerly known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, said the “move will cause grave harm to thousands of people who were welcomed to the United States after fleeing violence and persecution.”
ICE detention levels
Under President Donald Trump, the number of people in ICE detention reached about 68,000 this month, up about 75% from when he took office last year.
How do you think the detain-and-inspect requirement could affect refugees applying for lawful permanent resident status?
