1. United States
2. Del.
3. Letter

First, the U.S. government canceled flights for thousands of approved and vetted refugees already booked for travel to the United States. Now, the U.S. government is poised to relitigate the status of those who are already here and delay or block their path to permanency—a profound betrayal of the safety and security offered by a longstanding U.S. humanitarian program. On Nov. 21, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow sent a memo ordering the review and potential reinterview of refugees admitted under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program from Jan. 20, 2021, to Feb. 20, 2025. Refugees admitted under this timeframe would be subject to a review and reinterview process, including the "circumstances establishing past persecution or a well-founded fear.” Refugees who have already been granted green cards would also be subject to the review. USCIS is also issuing a processing pause of requests for lawful permanent residence filed by refugees admitted during the Jan. 20, 2021, to Feb. 20, 2025, timeframe. Federal law requires refugees to file for green cards after a year in the United States. This review and reinterview process would force refugees to relive their past trauma as the government needlessly relitigates its past decisions on refugee status. This diversion of adjudicatory resources would take place for little discernible policy benefit, as refugees are already among the most thoroughly vetted individuals in the U.S. immigration system and—far from living in the shadows—reapproach the government on green card applications or family reunification petitions. The green card processing pause will needlessly create a state of limbo for refugees who are building their lives in the United States. It will also delay access to critical services that refugees are eligible for after attaining green cards. These steps represent a profound betrayal of the promise offered to refugees under the U.S. resettlement program. Congress plays a critical role in funding and overseeing this bipartisan program. I urge you to speak out and advocate for changes to the USCIS policy memo that keep would refugee status intact and ensure refugees can reach permanency.