The US Department of Homeland Security, in a February 18 memo filed in federal court, said refugees must be returned to government custody for “inspection and questioning” one year after their admission to the United States.
– This detention and review requirement ensures that refugees are re-vetted after one year, aligns post-admission vetting with that applied to other applicants for admission and promotes public safety, the ministry’s memo said.
Under US law, refugees must apply for lawful permanent resident status within one year of arriving in the country. The new memo authorizes immigration authorities to detain people during the re-inspection process.
The new policy represents a change from an earlier 2010 memo, which stated that failure to obtain lawful permanent resident status is not a “ground” for removal from the country nor a “valid basis” for detention.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
