The Trump administration is detaining and re-interviewing refugees, including those resettled under Biden, sparking legal challenges and fear among vulnerable populations.

The Trump administration is detaining and re-interviewing refugees already admitted to the U.S., including those resettled under the Biden administration, sparking legal challenges and widespread concern. Refugees from Venezuela, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo report being arrested at home, shackled during transport, and held in harsh conditions despite having undergone extensive vetting. The government claims the re-screening is required by law within one year of arrival, but advocates argue the practice violates longstanding precedent, undermines the 1980 Refugee Act, and inflicts severe trauma. A federal judge halted the detentions in Minnesota, ordering the release of those held, while a lawsuit challenges the policy’s legality. Refugees describe living in fear, avoiding public life, and feeling betrayed by a system they believed would protect them.