Trump Administration Targets Refugees Without Green Cards

New policy could lead to detention and deportation of refugees who have not obtained permanent residency after one year in the U.S.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Trump administration has issued a new memo that requires immigration agents to detain refugees who have not applied for legal permanent status after one year of living in the United States. The policy rescinds an Obama-era memo that had previously determined a refugee's failure to apply for a green card within a year was not sufficient grounds for detention or deportation. Immigrant advocacy groups have condemned the move, saying it could strip the legal status of immigrants who have already been extensively vetted and welcomed into the U.S. after fleeing persecution.

Why it matters

This policy is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to target refugees and tighten pathways for immigrants to legally enter or remain in the United States. It comes as the administration has already slashed the number of refugee admissions and prioritized slots for mostly white South Africans, raising concerns about discrimination and the erosion of refugee protections.

The details

Under the new memo, refugees who were lawfully admitted to the U.S. could be arrested and detained if they have not yet obtained a green card, even though refugees are not eligible to apply for permanent residency until after one year in the country. They would then be 're-examined' for admission, though it's unclear how long they could be held in detention. The administration claims the policy is necessary to root out serious criminals and national security risks, but immigrant advocates say it will mainly affect recently arrived refugees who have already been extensively vetted.

  • In October, the Trump administration lowered the ceiling of refugee admissions to 7,500 for this fiscal year, down from the 125,000 cap the Biden administration had set the previous year.
  • Last month, the Homeland Security Department announced it would review thousands of refugee cases in Minnesota, requiring them to submit to new interviews and background checks.

The players

Trump Administration

The current presidential administration, led by President Donald Trump, that has implemented a series of policies targeting refugees and tightening immigration pathways.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The federal agency that issued the new memo requiring immigration agents to detain refugees who have not applied for legal permanent status after one year in the U.S.

Sarah Pierce

A former policy analyst at Citizenship and Immigration Services who is now the director of social policy at the center-left think tank Third Way, and who has criticized the administration's interpretation of the law regarding refugees.

Laurie Ball Cooper

The vice president for U.S. legal programs at the International Refugee Assistance Project, who has condemned the administration's efforts to "terrorize refugee communities."

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What they’re saying

“The memo almost reads like they think they have an obligation to detain refugees who don't have green cards after one year of being in the United States, which is a wild interpretation because refugees can't even apply for green cards until after a year.”

— Sarah Pierce, Former policy analyst, Citizenship and Immigration Services (nytimes.com)

“This government will clearly stop at nothing to terrorize refugee communities, and really all immigrants, while trampling over our constitutional rights.”

— Laurie Ball Cooper, Vice President for U.S. Legal Programs, International Refugee Assistance Project (nytimes.com)

What’s next

A federal judge will hear arguments on Thursday on whether to extend temporary protections that were ordered to stop immigration agents from detaining and deporting refugees in Minnesota.

The takeaway

This policy change is the latest in the Trump administration's broader efforts to target refugees and restrict immigration pathways, raising concerns about the erosion of refugee protections and potential discrimination against certain immigrant communities.