The Trump administration has directed immigration authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of nearly 200,000 refugees admitted to the United States during the Biden presidency, sparking fierce debate over immigration enforcement and humanitarian protections.

An internal memo dated November 21 and signed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow instructs officials to re‑interview refugees who entered between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025.

The document claims the prior administration prioritized “expediency and quantity” over rigorous vetting, and suspends processing of permanent residency applications for those admitted during that period. Refugee status may be terminated without immediate appeal rights, though individuals could contest decisions in immigration court if removal proceedings are initiated. Even those who have already obtained green cards are subject to review, with a priority list for re‑interviews expected within 90 days.

Defending the move, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the review addresses a “reckless approach” that undermined the integrity of the immigration system and jeopardized public safety. The initiative aligns with broader Trump policies, including an earlier suspension of the refugee program and a fiscal 2026 admissions cap of just 7,500 refugees, primarily white South Africans — the lowest since the program’s inception in 1980.

Refugee advocates condemned the plan as unnecessarily harsh and resource‑intensive. Naomi Steinberg, vice president of U.S. policy and advocacy at HIAS, called it “shockingly ill‑conceived” and a “new low” in treating newcomers who have already endured years of screenings.

Sharif Aly, president of the International Refugee Assistance Project, emphasized that refugees undergo “the most highly vetted” process among immigrants, describing the effort as “enormously cruel” and a waste of government resources. Legal challenges are expected, with critics arguing the retroactive scrutiny violates due process.

The affected group includes 185,640 refugees admitted between October 2021 and September 2024, with the largest contingents from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Syria, and Venezuela — many fleeing war, violence, and political unrest. Under standard procedures, refugees apply for green cards one year after arrival and become eligible for citizenship after five years.

The review underscores deepening divides in U.S. immigration policy, where national security concerns are increasingly weighed against long‑standing commitments to humanitarian protection. Families now face renewed uncertainty as the administration pushes to expand deportations and tighten borders, reversing Biden’s expansion of the refugee cap to 125,000 annually.