A federal judge in Boston has temporarily barred the Trump administration from enforcing a Department of Homeland Security rule that would allow arrest and detention of refugees who have not obtained green cards after one year in the United States. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns granted relief after six refugees and two advocacy groups challenged the rule as an unlawful departure from decades-long practice. The injunction prevents implementation of the policy while the legal challenge proceeds. The court has not ruled on the rule’s ultimate legality.
US Judge Blocks Trump-Era Policy That Would Have Detained Refugees Lacking Green Cards
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security seal is displayed ahead of an expected press conference held by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the FEMA National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 24, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard.
BOSTON, March 23 — A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a Department of Homeland Security rule that would have allowed the arrest and detention of thousands of refugees who, after one year in the United States, still had not obtained green cards.
What the Ruling Does
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns granted relief at the request of six refugees and two advocacy groups. His order prevents the new policy from taking effect while the court considers the legal challenge, stopping arrests and detention under the rule for the duration of the litigation.
Why Plaintiffs Challenged the Rule
The plaintiffs argued the Department of Homeland Security's policy represented an unlawful departure from decades-long practice regarding refugee processing and treatment. They contended the rule would upend established procedures and cause significant hardship to refugees and their families.
Background And Next Steps
The legal challenge will proceed in federal court, where both sides will present arguments on whether the policy was lawfully adopted and whether its implementation should be permanently enjoined. The injunction is temporary and applies only while the court considers the case.
Key Point: The order does not decide the ultimate legality of the policy; it merely prevents enforcement while the dispute is litigated.
Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; editing by Franklin Paul.
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