The Trump administration has announced an expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) powers, allowing them to detain legal refugees who are awaiting permanent residency. This policy shift, conveyed through a memo from the Department of Homeland Security, involves rescinding a 2010 regulation that provided protections against detaining refugees who had not secured residency within a year of their legal entry. This change could affect many refugees who entered the U.S. during President Biden's administration and significantly raises the risk of deportation for these individuals.

The announcement, first reported by the Washington Post, has raised concerns among immigrant advocates and legal experts who argue that this policy reversal undermines the long-standing protections that have been in place for refugees. The memo, authored by key officials at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and ICE, is seen as a departure from the established policies that helped safeguard refugees from deportation while they navigated the lengthy and often complex path to permanent residency.

The implications of this expanded authority for ICE are significant, potentially putting thousands of legal refugees at risk and causing widespread fear in immigrant communities. Critics of the new policy argue that it fosters an environment of uncertainty and hostility towards refugees, contradicting the U.S.'s historical role as a safe haven for individuals fleeing persecution. As the situation develops, the response from advocacy groups and legal challenges to this policy change may further influence its implementation and impact on affected communities.