A newly disclosed internal memo shows that the Trump administration has ordered a comprehensive review of every refugee admitted under former President Joe Biden. The directive affects more than 233,000 people, freezes all green card processing for this group, and authorizes re-interviews that could place thousands at risk of losing refugee status.
Sweeping Review Targets Refugees Admitted Under Biden
The Trump administration has launched a wide-ranging reassessment of all refugees admitted to the United States between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025. An internal memo signed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joe Edlow instructs officers to re-evaluate whether individuals admitted during this period continue to meet the statutory definition of a refugee.
According to the memo, the review is driven by concerns that the Biden administration prioritized volume and rapid processing over in-depth screening and vetting. Approximately 233,000 refugees are covered by the directive, and the order immediately suspends all pending applications for permanent residence filed by individuals who entered under the prior administration.
Processing Stoppage and Re-Interview Needs
The memo also states that refugees admitted during this time must be scheduled for new interviews to review their credibility, security issues, and eligibility. Officials may also extend re-interviews to refugees admitted outside the stated window if concerns arise.
The move represents a significant change in how refugees are treated. Typically, they are afforded durable protections after passing comprehensive background checks and security vetting. So far, USCIS has not released information about timelines, procedures, or how long the cases will be reviewed.
Sharp Policy Shift from Previous Admissions Strategy
The move follows the administration’s January decision to freeze refugee admissions as part of a broader reorientation of U.S. resettlement policy. While the Biden administration admitted more than 100,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024, the Trump administration significantly narrowed admissions, citing national security and assimilation concerns.
The administration, in setting the fiscal year 2026 refugee ceiling at 7,500-the lowest in U.S. history-also signaled that it would give preference to white South Africans of Afrikaner descent. International partners, lawmakers, and domestic advocacy groups have criticized the policy as an apparent abandonment of long-standing humanitarian commitments.
Growing Concerns Among Refugee Advocates
Refugee organizations warn that the review could create long-term instability for individuals who have already gone through multiple layers of vetting before entering the United States. Leaders in the resettlement community say it duplicates existing scrutiny and risks overwhelming adjudication systems.
Advocacy groups argue that reexamining refugee cases weakens integration efforts and places vulnerable individuals in a risky situation. Critics stress that refugees already face some of the most rigorous screening protocols of any immigrant classification, and reopening cases would delay access to stability, jobs, and community support.
Looking Ahead
The directive represents one of the most sweeping changes to refugee policy in decades and places more than 233,000 people at risk of renewed scrutiny and possible loss of protection. Long periods of uncertainty for refugees and their sponsoring communities are possible as USCIS conducts re-interviews and halts processing.
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