The Trump administration's plan to review all refugees admitted under the Biden administration is fueling widespread fear and uncertainty among nearly 200,000 individuals, threatening their established status and future in the U.S.
The Trump administration has initiated a comprehensive review of all refugees admitted to the United States during the Biden presidency, citing concerns that "expediency" and "quantity" were prioritized over "detailed screening and vetting." This plan, outlined in a memo from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow, has sparked significant alarm and uncertainty among the estimated 200,000 affected refugees, many of whom believed their status was secure after undergoing a years-long vetting process. The review also proposes suspending green card approvals for these refugees. Advocates for refugees vehemently oppose the move, calling it an "impossible task," a "colossal waste of government resources," and a policy that will "needlessly retraumatize refugees" who have already survived immense hardship. They argue that refugees are among the most thoroughly vetted individuals entering the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security, however, defends the review, stating it's "corrective action" to ensure individuals "deserve to be here." The uncertainty extends beyond the directly affected refugee population, causing concern among other immigrant groups like Afghans who arrived under different programs, highlighting the widespread fear and confusion stemming from the administration's rapidly changing immigration policies.
