MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — The Trump administration confirmed Friday that it has begun reviewing the refugee status of Minnesota residents, a move disclosed publicly following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an immigration enforcement officer earlier this week.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the review began in mid-December and involves “a sweeping initiative” reexamining thousands of refugee cases using new background checks and additional verification of prior refugee claims. The effort is part of a broader plan announced in November to reinterview roughly 200,000 refugees admitted to the United States during the Biden administration.
The initiative is notable because refugees are already subject to the most extensive vetting of any immigrant group, including multiple security screenings, interviews, and medical examinations before being approved for entry. Refugee status is granted only to individuals fleeing persecution or violence.
The administration’s announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal immigration activity in Minnesota, where the Department of Homeland Security has said enforcement operations will continue despite protests over the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good. In its statement, USCIS described Minnesota as “ground zero for the war on fraud,” though Republican criticism of the state has largely focused on alleged misuse of federal funding tied to daycare centers.
The program, formally titled Operation Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening, has already resulted in referrals to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to federal officials.
A DHS spokesperson said the operation reflects the administration’s priority of enforcing immigration law and preventing fraud, adding that U.S. citizens and the rule of law “come first.”
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