In a significant immigration policy shift, the Donald Trump administration has decided to reinterview thousands of refugees who entered the United States during the Joe Biden administration. This decision effectively puts on hold the Green Card application process for these individuals until the reinterviews are completed.
Massive Review Affects 235,000 Refugees
According to a memo from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the administration plans a comprehensive review and re-interview of all refugees admitted between January 20, 2021 and February 20, 2025 - the period covering the Biden administration. This decision impacts approximately 235,000 refugees who entered the US after proving they faced persecution in their home countries.
The administration has labeled this move an 'operational necessity' to ensure that refugees don't pose national security or public safety threats. Officials claim the previous administration didn't conduct sufficient vetting of people entering the United States under refugee status.
Severe Consequences for Failed Reinterviews
The reinterview process carries serious implications for affected refugees. Under the new directive:
- USCIS will terminate refugee status for those found not meeting refugee criteria
- The review may extend to refugees admitted outside the specified timeframe
- Green Cards may be denied even for those who already received them
- There will be no appeal against denial decisions
- The only legal recourse will be contesting removal orders in immigration court
Humanitarian Organizations Voice Strong Opposition
Refugee advocacy groups have condemned the administration's decision in strong terms. Mark Hetfield, president of HIAS, a refugee resettlement organization, told CNN that the policy is 'unspeakably cruel.'
'Just the threat of this is unspeakably cruel,' Hetfield stated. 'To threaten refugees with taking away their status would be re-traumatizing and a vicious misuse of taxpayer money. They pass intensive reviews of their refugee status, background checks, and security screenings. The Trump administration knows this full well.'
The policy change comes at a time when refugees who have already spent a year in the United States would normally be eligible and required to apply for Green Cards, marking a significant disruption to their path toward permanent residency.
