The Trump admin now detains legal refugees up to a year for re-vetting, reversing a 2010 rule.

The Trump administration has expanded ICE authority to detain legal refugees for up to a year after arrival if they haven’t applied for green cards, requiring them to undergo a re-vetting process for national security and public safety, according to a February 18, 2026, DHS memo. The policy marks a reversal of a 2010 rule that prohibited such detention and follows a broader immigration crackdown that has increased ICE detention numbers to about 68,000. Refugee advocacy groups criticize the move as punitive and harmful to those lawfully admitted after fleeing persecution. A federal judge previously blocked a similar policy in Minnesota, citing legal violations. The DHS did not comment outside regular hours.