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Refugees could face arrest one year after U.S. arrival under new DHS memo

Feb 18, 2026

Refugees could face arrest one year after U.S. arrival under new DHS memo

The Department of Homeland Security issued a memo stating that refugees who do not obtain a green card within one year of arrival in the U.S. could be detained or arrested. The policy rescinds prior guidance that did not treat failure to apply for a green card as grounds for deportation and allows refugees to be placed in immigration detention while their green card applications are pending. The Trump administration framed the policy as necessary to prevent fraud and national security threats.

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