Donald Trump Administration Expands ICE Authority to Detain Refugees Without Green Cards

President Donald Trump's administration has introduced a drastic change in immigration policy, targeting individuals with refugee status. According to the new guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE officers have gained the authority to arrest and detain refugees who, despite entering the country legally, have not yet obtained a green card. The memorandum dated February 18, 2026 orders a re-evaluation of the justification for these individuals' stay and an investigation into potential immigration fraud. The new regulations stipulate that refugees may be held in detention centers for an unspecified, "reasonable period" needed to review their cases. Since the enactment of the Refugee Act in 1980, the United States has had one of the most formalized refugee admission processes in the world, based on multi-stage verification by intelligence agencies even before arrival in the country. These actions represent a departure from previous practice, which protected refugees from arrest during their first year of stay before they become eligible to apply for permanent resident status. Human rights defenders warn that thousands of individuals who have already undergone extremely stringent security checks now face deportation. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, federal judge John Tunheim is considering a case regarding blocking similar actions by the administration against the local refugee community. This case may be crucial for the legality of the new guidelines at the federal level. Experts indicate that the new doctrine aims to maximally tighten the system, but this comes at the cost of life stability for individuals to whom the USA promised shelter from persecution. „The court must consider whether the detentions and the policy leading to them violate the rights of individuals legally present in the country.” — John Tunheim 1 rok — the time refugees in the USA have to apply for permanent residence The introduced changes are part of a broader program of tightening immigration controls, both illegal and legal. Activists emphasize that refugees are the most thoroughly checked group of immigrants entering the USA, and their re-evaluation under isolation conditions is a form of repression. Meanwhile, the government administration argues that rigorous control is essential for ensuring national security and eliminating abuses in the asylum process. Liberal media highlight the tragedy of refugees who fled war and are now treated by the U.S. administration as criminals despite their legal status. | Conservative media focus on the necessity of tightening the system and detecting potential fraud that may have been missed during initial verification.