Washington, D.C. - Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) strongly condemns the administration’s latest attack on refugees who found safety in the United States.
On February 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a new memo subjecting certain refugees to mandatory detention. The memo directs ICE to arrest and detain refugees who have not adjusted their immigration status to legal permanent resident (green card holder) after one year – a significant departure from prior practices.
“This directive is another cruel attack on people who have been forced to flee their homes and seek safety,” said Kristyn Peck, CEO of LSSNCA. “Last month, we witnessed an aggressive enforcement operation in Minnesota under Operation PARRIS, during which refugees were arrested and detained. Granting ICE blanket authority to arrest refugees is outrageously immoral. It contradicts a fundamental value of welcoming the stranger, which is shared across multiple faiths.”
This memo follows a November USCIS memo ordering the indefinite halt to the adjudication of green cards for refugees resettled during the previous administration and subjecting their cases to review and potential re-interview. An unnecessary process, as refugees undergo an extensive vetting process – including background checks, security screenings, and health evaluations by multiple federal law enforcement agencies– before they are admitted to the United States.
Peck added, “This policy targeting refugees is the latest of a string of compounding policies targeting immigrants and pathways to seek safety and stability. The impact of these policies goes beyond our immigrant neighbors; it impacts whole communities and economies.”
LSSNCA urges Congress to conduct oversight on this directive and include accountability measures for the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement efforts as part of its funding bill for fiscal year 2026.
