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Texas refugees detained under Trump policy requiring impossible green card deadline

Mar 9, 2026 · Texas

The Trump administration issued an ICE directive requiring refugees to apply for green card status within one year of admission and return to custody for re-vetting, or face mandatory arrest and indefinite detention. The policy expands Operation PARRIS and replaces a 2010 memo that previously protected refugees from deportation for failing to adjust status. Refugees and advocates argue the policy is impossible to comply with because applications cannot be submitted until after the first year, while current processing times average 12 months. Two Texas refugees have been detained under this guidance and are part of a federal lawsuit challenging the policy as unconstitutional.

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