Refugees in the U.S. could be arrested under new immigration memo

"The memo was filed as a part of documents submitted in a federal court case tied to refugees who were arrested in Minnesota. In it, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow and ICE acting Director Todd Lyons direct their agencies to "detain and inspect" refugees who do not "voluntarily return to DHS custody for inspection and examination" to be a legal permanent resident at the one-year mark of being in the country."

"Refugees must either get a green card within a year, or "present themselves to the agency" to avoid detention, according to a February 18 memo from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The move marks yet another attempt from the Trump administration to further limit legal pathways to resettle in the United States. The administration last year set the lowest-ever cap for refugees it would admit into the U.S."

A February 18 memo from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement requires refugees to obtain lawful permanent resident status within one year or present themselves to DHS to avoid detention. USCIS and ICE are directed to detain and inspect refugees who do not voluntarily return to DHS custody for inspection and examination at the one-year mark. The policy rescinds prior guidance that did not treat failure to apply for a green card as deportable conduct and allows detention while green card applications are pending. The memo was submitted in federal court records in a case tied to arrests in Minnesota. The administration also reduced the refugee admission cap and re-reviewed prior refugee admissions.

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