Trump Administration Expands Refugee Detention Powers

The Donald Trump administration has expanded the powers of immigration officers to detain legal refugees awaiting green cards for 're-vetting,' as outlined in a February 18 memo from the United States===United States Department of Homeland Security. This new policy mandates that refugees return to government custody for 'inspection and examination' one year after their admission into the United States, a departure from a 2010 memorandum. The United States===United States Department of Homeland Security states this measure ensures public safety and aligns vetting processes. Refugee advocacy groups like AfghanEvac and HIAS have strongly criticized the directive, calling it a 'reckless reversal' that will cause 'grave harm.' This policy is part of Donald Trump's broader hardline immigration agenda. A U.S. District Judge, John R. Tunheim, previously blocked a similar policy in Minnesota, citing violations of federal statutes.