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Original Date Announced
November 21, 2025USCIS Director Joe Edlow ordered USCIS personnel to review, and potentially re-interview, all refugees admitted from January 20, 2021 to February 20, 2025, to ensure that “they met the refugee definition … at the time of admission and to explore admissibility.” The memo also states that "when appropriate," USCIS will review and re-interview refugees admitted outside this timeframe. It states that USCIS has the authority to terminate refugee status if the criteria for classification as a refugee are not met. The memo further directs USCIS to pause indefinitely adjudications of adjustment of status applications from refugees admitted during the above period.
As justification, the memo cites EO 14163, Realigning the United States Refugee Admission Program, and states that the Biden administration “potentially prioritized expediency, quantity, and admissions over quality interviews and detailed screening and vetting.”
Trump 2.0 [ID #2092]
2025.11.21 USCIS - Reinterview of Certain Refugees Admitted to the U.S. and an Immediate Hold on Certain Refugees with a Pending I-485, Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust StatusEffective Date
November 21, 2025Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: ReportedTrump Administration Action: Agency DirectiveSubject Matter: RefugeesAgencies Affected: USCISAssociated or Derivative Policies
- January 20, 2025 EO 14163: "Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program"
- October 30, 2025 President Trump sets record-low refugee cap of 7,500 for fiscal year 2026
Documents
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