The Trump administration has announced plans to re-examine all refugees admitted to the United States during President Biden’s tenure, according to a memo obtained by the Associated Press. The move marks another significant challenge to a decades-old program that has offered protection to people fleeing war and persecution.
Nearly 200,000 refugees who entered the country between January 2021 and February 2025 will be subject to the review, sparking concern among advocates who warn of widespread fear and confusion. Critics argue the decision reflects what they describe as the administration’s “cold-hearted treatment” of individuals striving to rebuild their lives in America.
The memo, signed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, claims that during the Biden years, refugee admissions prioritized “expediency” and “quantity” over “detailed screening and vetting.” It calls for a comprehensive reassessment, including re-interviews of all refugees admitted in that period. USCIS expects to compile a priority list for re-interviews within 90 days.
Effective immediately, the memo suspends green card approvals for refugees who arrived during those years. Even those who have already received permanent residency will be subject to review. If USCIS determines that someone should not have qualified for refugee status, they will have “no right to appeal,” though they may contest the decision if placed in immigration court.
Edlow defended the policy, writing, “USCIS is ready to uphold the law and ensure the refugee program is not abused.” Refugees are typically required to apply for a green card one year after arrival and may seek citizenship after five years.
The administration has already taken steps to restrict the refugee program, suspending it earlier this year and capping admissions at 7,500 primarily white South Africans. That figure represents the lowest ceiling since the program began in 1980. The broader immigration agenda has focused on ramping up enforcement and deportations.
During Biden’s presidency, 185,640 refugees were admitted, with more than 100,000 arriving last year alone. The largest groups came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Syria.
Refugee advocates strongly condemned the review. Naomi Steinberg of HIAS called the plan “shockingly ill-conceived” and “a new low” in the administration’s treatment of refugees. Sharif Aly, president of the International Refugee Assistance Project, added that refugees are “already the most highly vetted immigrants in the United States” and warned that the effort would waste government resources while traumatizing families who have lived peacefully in American communities for years.
