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The Biden-era refugee admissions program has come under renewed scrutiny, prompting the Trump administration to initiate a comprehensive review of all refugees admitted during President Biden’s tenure. An internal memo obtained by Reuters indicates that this review will focus on approximately 200,000 refugees who entered the United States between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025. The order also halts all processing of permanent residence applications for refugees who arrived under Biden.
The memo, signed by USCIS Director Joe Edlow and dated November 21, states that the agency will revoke the refugee status of individuals currently in the U.S. if they are found not to meet the eligibility criteria. It criticizes the Biden administration for possibly prioritizing the number of admissions over thorough screening and detailed interviews, suggesting that the process may have sacrificed quality vetting for quantity.
USCIS has not responded publicly to requests for comment.
This move marks a stark contrast to the previous administration’s policies, as President Trump, a Republican, suspended refugee admissions across all countries starting in January 2017, implementing stringent measures to curb both legal and illegal immigration. Mr. Trump’s approach sharply reversed the more accommodating policies of President Biden, whose administration welcomed over 100,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024. The new memo signals a potential rollback of Biden-era refugee policies, with the possibility of re-interviews for refugees admitted during the specified period to reassess their eligibility.
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