This article was last updated April 15, 2026

Summary

If you have refugee status in the United States and are worried about being detained by U.S. immigration officers (ICE), you may have questions about how to be prepared. This article explains:

• How to prepare for potential detention
• What to know about immigration detention
• How to prepare for a potential refugee “re-vetting interview” in detention

For more information about the refugee detention case go here. 

How to prepare for potential detention

If you are worried about possible detention, here are some steps you can take to prepare yourself for this situation.

Collect and make copies of documents related to your legal status and resettlement to the United States. Leave these documents with a trusted friend or family member. Some documents may include: 

• I-94 (Arrival/Departure record)
• Transportation Boarding Letter (or boarding foil) 
• Employment Authorization Document, or “work permit” card
• If you have applied for your green card, evidence of your pending green card application (such as your I-797C “Receipt Notice”)
• If you have a legal representative, a copy of their signed Form G-28 (which tells the government they are representing you in your immigration case)

Make sure your trusted friend or family member also knows:

• Your A-number 
  • Instructions on how to locate your A-number can be found under Step 3.3 in this resource.
• Your date of birth
• The country of your birth
• The country of your nationality

If you have a legal representative:

• Ask for a business card or write down their phone number, and keep it with you at all times

Tell the immigration official you have refugee status and show proof of refugee status. You should also tell them if you have any pending applications such as an adjustment of status (green card) application or family based application. If you have an immigration lawyer, tell them you want to speak to your lawyer.

Make an emergency notification plan. If you are worried about being detained at an interview or appointment with immigration officials, make sure you have a plan for how you will tell your loved ones or trusted contacts what has happened to you when you do not have much time. Consider downloading the ReadyNow! application on your phone. This app was created by immigration advocates, and it allows you to make emergency plans and set up a secure alert system in case you are detained by ICE.

What to know about immigration detention

If ICE detains you with other family members, they may separate you and send you to different detention centers. They may also move you to multiple detention centers, including to states far from where you live.

Your belongings, including identification documents, will be taken away. Memorize important phone numbers and send copies of your documents to someone you trust. 

If you do not already have an attorney, you can request a list of free attorneys to contact from within the detention center. Insist that you want to speak with an attorney and request access to a phone number.

If you are detained by ICE, your friends and family can check this website to locate you. They can search by A-number and country of birth, or by biographical information. They should check daily. Sometimes there are delays in getting the information on this website updated, especially when people are being moved from one detention center to another.

FROM ICE DETENTION CENTERS, YOU CAN DIAL 9233# TO REACH LEGAL SERVICES OR REPORT ABUSE.

What to know about re-vetting interviews in ICE detention

If you are detained by ICE, you might be questioned or re-interviewed about your refugee application, even if you already have a green card or applied for one. If you don’t speak English well, you have the right to an interview in your language. If you have an attorney, you should inform ICE. If you have your lawyer’s phone number, they may be able to join the interview by phone. If you do not feel comfortable with the interview, you may be able to say you do not consent to the interview. Unfortunately, a lot of details about what is happening are still unclear or changing. It is hard to predict what is likely to happen if you do not consent to an interview.

During the re-interview, you may be asked many questions about why you left your home country or why you are afraid to return there. These questions may be very similar to questions you already answered when you were interviewed overseas. You should answer carefully and honestly, just as you did in your original interview(s).

If you have a disability, you have the right to ask for accommodations. You can learn more about your rights here.

I am a refugee in Minnesota. Is there anything else I should know?

In January 2026, ICE began detaining refugees who do not have green cards in Minnesota. In response to this, a court in Minnesota issued two orders saying ICE cannot detain refugees in Minnesota just because they have not yet adjusted status (gotten green cards). Then, the government announced that it would try to detain refugees just because they do not have green cards all over the country. Another court in Massachusetts ordered that the U.S. government cannot implement this refugee detention policy anywhere. 

Now, the case in Minnesota has been dismissed. This means there is not a court order just about refugee detention in Minnesota anymore. It is very important to know that the court order in Massachusetts stops the policy everywhere, including in Minnesota. Therefore, refugees in Minnesota are still protected from detention if they have not yet received their green cards.

It is very important to be aware of your rights, including those described in this article. If you were helped by a resettlement agency when you arrived, it could be helpful to reach out to them now for additional local information.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is sending interview notices to many refugees in Minnesota telling them to report to the USCIS building for a “PARRIS Interview” and/or for a “Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and I-485 Interview.” USCIS does have the authority to require refugees who have applied for green cards (lawful permanent residence) to appear for interviews. If you do not attend these interviews, your green card application will likely be denied and you may receive a notice saying the government plans to take away your refugee status. We expect that at this interview you will be asked about the details of your refugee claim and about your application for a green card.

If you received one of these notices, it’s very helpful to get a lawyer’s advice and to bring a lawyer to the interview. It can take time to find a lawyer, so we recommend reaching out to the resettlement agency that helped you as soon as you receive a notice about an interview. 

Additional information and resources

• Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration (National Immigration Law Center) 
• Know Your Rights: What to Do If You or a Loved One Is Detained (National Immigrant Justice Center)