Recent policy news

DHS memo signals potential arrest and detention of refugees who haven’t yet applied for green cards

What happened

On Feb. 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memo stating it intends to arrest refugees who have been in the United States for more than one year and have not yet applied for lawful permanent residence (a green card).

The memo was submitted in federal court as part of ongoing litigation over Operation PARRIS, an enforcement effort in Minneapolis where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained refugees in their communities and transferred them out of state while re-examining their cases. A federal court has paused those arrests while the lawsuit continues.

The new memo suggests DHS may seek to expand that approach nationwide.

What the memo states

Under current law:

• Refugees are admitted to the U.S. after extensive vetting.
• One year after arrival, they are expected to apply for a green card.
• After five years as a green card holder, they may apply for citizenship.

In the memo, DHS asserts that if a refugee has not applied for a green card and completed an interview after one year, the government may:

• Locate and arrest that person,
• Detain them for an unspecified period of time,
• Revisit not only their green card eligibility but also their original refugee claim, and
• Ultimately either grant permanent residence or place them into removal proceedings.

Importantly, the memo does not set a time limit on detention.

It is still unclear how broadly or quickly DHS may attempt to implement this policy, and how courts may ultimately rule on its legality.

Why it matters

Refugees are among the most heavily vetted groups entering the United States. Before arrival, they undergo years of background checks, interviews, biometric screening, and medical exams.

They are admitted lawfully and begin rebuilding their lives with legal protections in place.

Applying for a green card after one year is part of that pathway, but in practice, refugees often face real barriers:

• Limited access to affordable legal assistance
• Language barriers
• Financial hardship
• Medical or mental health challenges
• Confusion about paperwork requirements

If arrest and detention become enforcement tools for those who have not yet applied, the impact could be significant. An estimated 100,000 refugees nationwide may not have adjusted status yet.

Beyond legal questions, there are real human consequences. Refugees, by definition, fled persecution. Being detained, separated from family, or asked to re-prove their past trauma can be destabilizing and retraumatizing.

At this time, much remains uncertain—but preparation and information matter.

If you are a refugee or supporting someone who may be affected

Here are three practical steps you can take now:

1. Connect with legal support. If eligible, refugees should apply for lawful permanent residence. You can search for a qualified immigration attorney using the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) directory.

2. Make an emergency preparedness plan. Use this guide developed by Community Sponsorship Hub, Welcoming Initiative for Newcomers, and Alight to help families prepare important documents and contact plans in case of detention.

3. Offer steady support and connection. Review our guide on helping newcomers cope in unsettling times to provide emotional reassurance and practical care.

Previous updates

1. Court pauses termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians

What happened: On Feb. 2, a federal judge issued a stay, or postponement, delaying the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. The ruling prevents the program from expiring as scheduled and keeps current protections in place while a legal challenge moves forward. More than 300,000 Haitian newcomers have sought safety in the U.S. since 2010 after fleeing widespread violence, political instability, natural disasters, and economic collapse. Many now face serious safety risks if forced to return to Haiti.

While the pause is in place, Haitian TPS holders retain work authorization and access to the benefits provided under the program. The court will next consider whether the U.S. government is legally permitted to terminate TPS for Haiti, taking into account ongoing conditions in the country.

Why it matters: TPS for Haiti was first designated more than a decade ago in response to devastating earthquakes and persistent political instability, and it has been repeatedly renewed as conditions remain unsafe. Over the years, Haitian newcomers have built lives in the U.S., raising families, working, and contributing to their communities.

Although the court’s stay offers short-term relief, it underscores how fragile these protections remain. For communities like those in the Texas Panhandle that have welcomed Haitian neighbors, this uncertainty means prolonged instability and the potential loss of friends, coworkers, and community members who have become like family.

2. Judge halts detention of lawfully resettled refugees in Minnesota under Operation PARRIS

What happened: In January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation PARRIS (Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening), an initiative aimed at reexamining the cases of thousands of refugees who were resettled in the U.S. in the last five years and have not yet received their green cards. These refugees had already undergone extensive vetting and background checks prior to being admitted into the U.S. Beginning in Minnesota, federal immigration agents began detaining lawfully resettled refugees—some of whom were transferred to detention centers in Texas before being released.

In response, a coalition of refugees and advocacy organizations filed a class action lawsuit challenging the arrest and detentions.

On Jan. 28, a federal judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) blocking the arrest and detention of lawfully resettled refugees in Minnesota under Operation PARRIS while the lawsuit proceeds. The court also ordered the prompt release of all refugees detained in Minnesota. This ruling applies only to Minnesota and is not a final decision on the case.

Why it matters: Operation PARRIS stems from a directive issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) calling for the re-review of more than 200,000 refugees who arrived during the Biden administration. While enforcement began in Minnesota, DHS has signaled plans to expand the operation elsewhere. The court’s intervention affirms a critical principle: refugees who entered the U.S. through safe, legal pathways and were formally resettled should not be subject to arbitrary detention. While the TRO provides urgent relief for families who were living in fear, refugees and the communities that support them continue to face uncertainty, trauma, and an unpredictable enforcement landscape.

3. Judge allows Operation Metro Surge to continue in Minnesota

What happened: On Jan. 31, a federal judge in Minnesota denied a request from state and local officials to temporarily halt Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration enforcement effort in the Twin Cities, while litigation challenging the operation continues.

State and local leaders argued that the expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence exceeded federal authority, caused fear and disruption in local communities, and lacked a legitimate law enforcement purpose. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs did not meet the legal threshold required to pause the operation at this stage.

As a result, the increased ICE presence in the Twin Cities may continue while the broader lawsuit moves forward.

Why it matters: Operation Metro Surge has already had significant impacts on families and neighborhoods. Detentions may continue for individuals who have sought safety in the U.S., including people with pending asylum cases—such as 5-year-old Liam and his father, who were detained despite having active applications.

Even as this enforcement continues, there is growing support from elected officials and community leaders across the country for greater accountability, transparency, and compassion in immigration enforcement, with the latest statement coming from dozens of national security and immigration policy experts who served during Republican administrations. This case highlights the tension between expanded federal authority and the well-being of local communities.

4. State Department suspends immigrant visas for 75 countries

What happened: As part of the administration’s efforts to impose stricter entry requirements, the U.S. Department of State has directed consular officers to indefinitely suspend the issuance of immigrant visas for people from 75 countries deemed “at high risk of public benefits usage.”

This suspension means that individuals from these countries who were seeking to immigrate to the U.S.—often after navigating a lengthy and complex legal process—will not receive visas while the policy remains in effect.

The affected countries include:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

People who already possess immigrant visas, including those currently outside the U.S., are not affected.

Why it matters: This visa suspension closes safe and legal pathways for families who have already navigated a lengthy and complex immigration process. This includes Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants who risked their lives to serve alongside U.S. forces.

By halting visas, even after approval, the policy leaves families in limbo, separates loved ones indefinitely, and undermines confidence in the fairness and reliability of America’s legal immigration system.