Judge upholds order blocking ICE from detaining lawful refugees

A federal judge on Monday kept in place a temporary restraining order that prevented immigration authorities from detaining refugees living in Minnesota.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim denied the federal government’s motion to dissolve the Jan. 28 order, which is set to last through Feb. 25, reasoning that detaining refugees could cause “irreparable harm.”

RELATED: A federal judge rules lawful refugees detained by ICE have to be released immediately

The lawsuit was brought by the group Advocates for Human Rights on behalf of Minnesota refugees, challenging “Operation PARRIS.”

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services launched Operation PARRIS — which stands for Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening — with a stated goal of vetting roughly 5,600 refugees in Minnesota who have yet to attain Green Cards.

Officials began referring refugees targeted under Operation PARRIS for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention in January, but that directive will remain on pause under Tunheim’s order, which only applies to Minnesota.

In his order this week, Tunheim questioned the basis of Operation PARRIS and said refugees who are still awaiting permanent status “have no incentive to avoid inspection,” noting that annual check-ins are required for obtaining a Green Card.

“Mandatory detention, in addition to being practically impossible given the number of refugees awaiting inspection and adjustment, seems clearly to be a solution in search of a problem,” the judge wrote.

Attorneys for the federal government have until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to provide an update on the release and return of any refugees brought into ICE detention.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to Homeland Security for comment and is awaiting a response.

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