Immigrant rights groups say the new policy is aimed at “bullying some of the most vulnerable people” in American society.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has confirmed it will retroactively scrutinize refugees who have already been admitted, sparking concerns from immigrant rights groups.
“Corrective actions are now being taken to ensure those in the United States deserve to be here,” Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Tuesday.
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The Associated Press and Reuters reported on Monday that they had obtained a government memo ordering an investigation into the more than 230,000 refugees who were legally resettled in the country under former President Joe Biden.
The memo, signed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, states that refugees found not to meet resettlement criteria will have their legal status revoked.
“Given these concerns, USCIS has determined that a comprehensive investigation and re-interview of all refugees admitted between January 20, 2021 and February 20, 2025 is warranted,” the memo states.
“If necessary, USCIS may screen and reinterview refugees admitted outside of this period.”
In 2024, the United States will accept more than 100,000 refugees. The main countries of origin for the refugees were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Syria.
Unlike asylum seekers, who apply for protection after arriving in the United States, refugees apply for legal status while abroad.
They are admitted to the United States on the basis that they are long-term residents who are safe from persecution in their home countries.
Refugee status also provides a path to U.S. citizenship, allowing newcomers to apply for legal permanent residence one year after entering the country.
Asylum applicants undergo multiple levels of screening and interviews. The process often begins with a referral to the U.S. refugee admissions program from a third party, usually the United Nations.
U.S. immigration authorities then rigorously screen applicants and must prove that they faced persecution because of their race, religion, national origin, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group.
Sharif Ali, president of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), said refugees are the most highly vetted migrants in the country.
“This order is another in a long line of efforts to threaten the legal status of the most vulnerable members of our communities, make them vulnerable to the egregious actions of immigration enforcement agencies, and bully them by subjecting them to cumbersome and potentially re-traumatizing processes,” Ally said in a statement.
Mark Hetfield, president of humanitarian aid organization HIAS, criticized the Trump administration’s move as “unnecessary, cruel and wasteful.” His group supports new refugees in the United States.
“Refugees already face more scrutiny than any other immigrant group,” Hetfield told Reuters.
President Trump drastically reduced refugee admissions during his first term and nearly eliminated the refugee program after returning to the White House in January.
The second Trump administration set the cap on refugee admissions next year at a historic low of 7,500.
The president also ordered a program to resettle “primarily” white South Africans who face discrimination by the South African government.
Overall, President Trump has restricted new immigration to the United States and promoted a crackdown on non-citizens in the country.
