Federal Judge Halts Detention Of Lawfully Resettled Refugees In Minnesota Amid 'Operation Parris' Challenge

A federal judge has ordered an immediate, temporary halt to the detention of lawfully resettled refugees in Minnesota while a class-action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new "re-vetting" policy proceeds.

U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim issued the injunction after lawyers and advocacy groups reported that more than 100 refugees who had been lawfully resettled in Minnesota were arrested in recent weeks. Some detainees were flown to immigration facilities in Texas and later released there — reportedly without money, belongings or advance notice — and forced to arrange and pay for their own return.

Judge’s Order and Legal Challenge

Judge Tunheim ordered the immediate release of refugees detained in Minnesota and directed that those transported to Texas be released within five days while the litigation continues. The ruling followed a class-action suit filed after the administration announced "Operation Parris," described by officials as "a sweeping initiative re-examining thousands of refugee cases through new background checks and intensive verification of refugee claims."

"The threat of irreparable harm favors immediate relief in this case," Judge Tunheim wrote, noting the "stories of terror and trauma" recounted by plaintiffs.

Accounts From Plaintiffs And Advocates

One plaintiff identified as D. Doe says he was arrested outside his home after a plainclothes man alleged a traffic incident. Doe says he was detained in Minnesota, flown to Texas, questioned about his refugee status, then released and left to find his way back. Doe’s wife, also a refugee, reportedly stayed with friends out of fear that agents might return.

Michele Garnett McKenzie, executive director of The Advocates for Human Rights, called the detentions "an unprecedented assault on core human rights" protected by international and U.S. refugee law and praised the court’s decision. She and other advocates said rapid out-of-state transfers left families scrambling to locate detainees and obtain legal representation; many of those affected had already completed resettlement vetting and had no immigration attorneys on hand.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, roughly 5,600 refugees who have resettled in the U.S. but are not yet permanent residents could be subjected to the renewed vetting process described by the administration. The Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the ruling.

The injunction is temporary while the court considers the class-action challenge to the government’s policy. The case highlights tensions between national security measures and protections for refugees who have already completed extensive pre-arrival screening.