WASHINGTON D.C., United States — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a comprehensive review of all refugees who entered the United States under former President Joe Biden, an unprecedented move that could reopen the cases of thousands granted U.S. protection.
An internal U.S. government memo, seen by Vivid Voice News, confirms that the order applies to approximately 233,000 refugees admitted between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025.
It also dictates an immediate halt to all processing of applications for permanent residence (green cards) for refugees who entered during that period.
The memo, dated November 21 and signed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joe Edlow, signals a stark reversal of policy.
Trump, a Republican, froze refugee admissions globally upon taking office in January as part of his broader crackdown on legal and illegal immigration, contrasting sharply with his Democratic predecessor, whose administration had welcomed over 100,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024. USCIS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Concerns over screening and vetting
The USCIS memo justifies the exhaustive review by stating that the agency will terminate the refugee status of individuals already in the U.S. if they are found not to meet established refugee criteria.
The document claims the Biden administration may have prioritized expediency, quantity, and admissions over quality interviews and detailed screening and vetting.
The memo clearly outlines the scope of the operation:
“Given these concerns, USCIS has determined that a comprehensive review and a re-interview of all refugees admitted from January 20, 2021, to February 20, 2025, is warranted,” the memo stated. “When appropriate, USCIS will also review and re-interview refugees admitted outside this timeframe.”
The order cites President Trump’s January 20 executive order halting U.S. refugee resettlement, which mandated that admissions must prioritize national security and that the U.S. should “admit only those refugees who can fully and appropriately assimilate into the United States.”
Criticism and new admissions cap
The administration’s hardline approach has drawn fire from refugee advocates and Democratic lawmakers.
Critics argue that the downsizing and increased scrutiny are unnecessary and block vetted individuals who face persecution and would contribute positively to the U.S. economy.
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Mark Hetfield, president of HIAS (formerly the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), called the new vetting program outlined in the USCIS memo “unnecessary, cruel and wasteful.”
“Refugees have already been more vetted than any other group of immigrants,” Hetfield said.
This review comes weeks after Trump set the refugee admissions cap for fiscal year 2026 at a record-low 7,500.
The administration stated it would focus on bringing in white South Africans of Afrikaner ethnicity, claiming they face persecution in majority-Black South Africa—a claim South Africa’s government has rejected.
