Refugees Face New Scrutiny Under Trump Administration Policies

The Trump administration has initiated a new phase of scrutiny concerning refugees already admitted to the United States, raising concerns among those who have sought refuge from persecution. This shift primarily impacts refugees who secured status during the administration of former President Joe Biden.

In 2021, a family from Venezuela fled their country after facing violence and threats from the government due to their opposition to the socialist regime. After receiving refugee status, they settled in Minnesota in 2023, hoping for a peaceful life. However, recent actions by the Trump administration have altered their sense of security. The government is prioritizing a review of the legal status of approximately 5,600 refugees in Minnesota, many of whom are still not permanent residents.

In a striking incident, three masked officers approached the family’s apartment complex in St. Paul, handcuffing a 24-year-old Venezuelan woman and her mother while informing them that their legal status was under review. This event is part of a larger trend, as attorneys and advocates report that immigration authorities have detained or questioned dozens of refugees in Minnesota. Following a federal judge’s ruling in January, a temporary halt was placed on these detentions while a lawsuit challenging the new “revetting” process is underway. The judge mandated the immediate release of all refugees detained in Minnesota and Texas.

Refugees have expressed profound anxiety about their future in the United States. One young woman from Venezuela has not returned to her job at a clothing factory, while a man who fled Myanmar feels compelled to carry a letter from his church pleading for humane treatment for immigrants. A Congolese refugee, who was detained despite her status, described her experience as surreal, stating, “everything that’s happened feels like a movie.”

The U.S. has historically welcomed refugees, a practice rooted in bipartisan support since the Refugee Act was passed in 1980. This act established a rigorous application process, ensuring that those fleeing persecution receive careful consideration. Advocates argue that revisiting refugee status undermines legal precedents and poses risks to those who have already been vetted.

Beth Oppenheim, chief executive officer of HIAS, a prominent refugee assistance organization, emphasized that refugees admitted to the U.S. undergo extensive vetting prior to their arrival. “Once a refugee is admitted to the U.S. through the resettlement program, the only way to strip them of their status is to prove that they should never have been admitted,” Oppenheim stated.

Matthew Tragesser, a spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, defended the administration’s actions. In a written statement, he noted that refugees are “REQUIRED to be subject to a full inspection after a year within the United States,” describing this as a clear legal mandate. While refugees must apply for green cards after one year, the administration’s approach diverges from decades of tradition by detaining individuals during the review process.

Concerns over the impact of these policies are significant. Smita Dazzo, deputy director of U.S. programs at HIAS, remarked, “Arresting, detaining, and rescreening refugees are all new changes which will inflict grave harm on vulnerable populations.”

In one recent case, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained the Venezuelan woman and her mother, transporting them to Houston under harsh conditions. The daughter recounted being isolated in a cold room without food or water, feeling her status had been rendered “worthless.” She expressed disbelief at the treatment, stating, “We were supposed to arrive in this country with refugee status, and we thought we would be protected here. But right now, at this moment, it is quite the opposite.”

After filing habeas corpus petitions in federal court, the women were released, but the experience left them shaken. Since their return, the younger woman has been too fearful to leave her home.

Another refugee, Saw Ba Mya James, a 46-year-old father who escaped military persecution in Myanmar, arrived in St. Paul in 2023. Despite having applied for a green card, he avoided public places for weeks after friends advised caution. James received a letter on February 2, 2024, ordering him to undergo a “post-admissions refugee reverification” at the St. Paul field office. During the lengthy interview, he faced repeated questions about his initial vetting, raising concerns about the qualifications of the personnel involved in his case.

A Congolese woman, who had settled in the Twin Cities area in November 2024, faced a similar ordeal when she was approached by an immigration officer while parked outside her workplace on January 14, 2024. Despite presenting her work authorization, she was handcuffed and taken for questioning in Houston regarding her refugee status. She was released on January 18, 2024, but not without significant distress and logistical challenges, including a manager from her company driving her back home for 17 hours.

The current situation has created a climate of fear and uncertainty among refugees in the United States. Many, like James and the Congolese woman, are left to navigate an increasingly hostile environment, questioning their safety and future in a country they hoped would offer them protection.