Trump administration expands ICE power to detain legal refugees

A Department of Homeland Security memo broadens ICE authority to detain refugees who hold legal status and are awaiting permanent residency, revoking a 2010 restriction; a Minnesota judge had temporarily blocked similar detentions and a court hearing was scheduled.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a memo that expands Immigration and Customs Enforcement's authority to detain refugees who were admitted legally and are in the process of securing permanent residency. The memo revokes a 2010 rule that had limited detention for refugees who did not obtain residency within a year. The action follows Operation PARRIS, a DHS reverification effort targeted at thousands of refugee cases. The move is also occurring amid court challenges in Minnesota where a judge had temporarily blocked additional detentions. Key details: - The DHS memo states that refugee admission is conditional and subject to mandatory review after one year. - The updated policy revokes a 2010 rule that previously limited detaining legally admitted refugees over residency timing. - Operation PARRIS was announced as a reverification effort involving roughly 5,600 refugee cases, according to DHS statements. - A federal judge in Minnesota temporarily barred broader detentions and a hearing in that court was scheduled to address the dispute. Summary: The memo extends ICE's detention authority for refugees who are legally admitted but still undergoing residency review, altering a long-standing practice. The change follows the launch of Operation PARRIS and has prompted litigation; a Minnesota court hearing was scheduled as the next procedural step.