A federal judge unloaded on the Trump administration and its attempt to re-vet refugees in Minnesota, calling is a “dystopian nightmare” that breaks America’s promise to those fleeing persecution in their home countries.
U.S. District Judge John Tunheim, a Clinton appointee, issued a preliminary injunction Friday blocking any arrest and detention of refugees under the policy.
Under the 1980 law that created the modern refugee system, refugees are required to “return” to the government for a potential re-vetting. Homeland Security says that means the government can arrest at that point and detain them until they clear the re-vetting.
But Judge Tunheim said that was a new — and wrong — interpretation of the law, and upends years of assurances to refugees that once here, they would be welcomed and protected.
“The government’s new policy breaks that promise — without congressional authorization — and raises serious constitutional concerns,” he wrote. “The new policy turns the refugees’ American Dream into a dystopian nightmare. Until the Court can resolve those issues on the merits, it will not allow federal authorities to cast aside the commitment made to those who were vetted, admitted, and came to this country in reliance on our word.”
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Homeland Security’s legal immigration agency, announced in January that it was conducting a review of refugee cases — with 5,600 residents of Minnesota serving as the initial focus.
The announcement came in the middle of Operation Metro Surge, the controversial deportation push Homeland Security made in Minnesota.
The 5,600 refugees had been in the U.S. for more than a year but had yet to be granted lawful permanent resident status, or a green card.
Refugees are those outside the U.S. who seek protection from persecution in their home nations. They are similar to asylum seekers, who are those seeking protection after already reaching American soil.
Judge Tunheim had issued a preliminary ruling a month ago putting the refugee arrest policy on hold.
