This article was last updated July 28, 2026

Summary

On November 21, 2025, the United States government announced that it would be reviewing the cases of all refugees who entered the United States between January 21, 2021 and February 20, 2025. This includes refugees who now have green cards, and those who have applied for green cards and are still waiting for a decision. The government is calling this “refugee revetting.”

This article explains what “refugee revetting” means, and how this policy has affected refugees in the United States since the November 2025 announcement. If you are a refugee who entered the United States between January 21, 2021 and February 20, 2025, and you have questions about how this policy affects you, you should contact an immigration lawyer for individual advice. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here. Note: IRAP cannot guarantee the quality of services provided by attorneys on these lists.

What is “refugee revetting”?

On November 21, 2025, the U.S. government issued a new policy that affects all refugees who entered the United States between January 21, 2021 and February 20, 2025. It may also impact refugees who entered outside that time frame as well. According to this policy:

• All pending adjustment of status (green card) applications for refugees who entered during this time period are now paused.
• All refugees who entered during this time period will have their cases reviewed again. The purpose of this review is to confirm that these individuals were correctly given refugee status.
• Some refugees who entered during this time period may be required to attend new interviews, even though they were already interviewed before entering the United States.
• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who entered as refugees during this time period will also have their cases reviewed again and may be required to attend additional interviews.

The government’s process for “revetting” a refugee case may include:

 

• Reviewing the original case file from the overseas refugee application, including the original interview notes and other documents. 
• Reviewing other immigration applications in the record, such as green card applications and family reunification applications.
• Reviewing social media activity and profiles. 
• Requiring additional interviews with immigration officials.
• Other types of background checks.

Who is impacted by the “refugee revetting” policy?

According to the November policy, the government is “revetting” refugees all over the country who entered the United States between January 21, 2021 and February 20, 2025. 

There has also been a particular focus on refugees who are living in the state of Minnesota. In early January 2026, the U.S. government launched “Operation PARRIS,” targeting refugees in Minnesota who did not yet have green cards.

What will happen to me if the government is “revetting” my refugee case?

ICE Arrests and Detention

At this time, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests do not seem to be happening as part of the “revetting” process. However, for more information about what to do if you have refugee status and you are detained by ICE, click here.

In early 2026, as part of Operation PARRIS, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began arresting refugees in Minnesota and sending them to ICE detention centers. Then, on February 18, 2026, the U.S. government also announced that refugees without green cards who do not attend their scheduled interviews may be arrested and detained for an unknown period of time. 

IRAP filed two lawsuits challenging the detention of refugees, both in Minnesota and nationwide. For now, the courts have said that ICE cannot arrest and detain refugees for not having a green card. For more information on the lawsuits, see here.

Revetting Interviews

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has done “revetting interviews” for some refugees in Minnesota who do not yet have green cards. Some of these interviews happened in ICE detention, after ICE officers arrested refugees and held them in immigration jail. Other interviews happened after refugees received appointment notices telling them to come to the USCIS office for a scheduled interview.

In these revetting interviews, USCIS officers have asked questions about the person’s identity, original refugee case, and other information about their immigration case history. If you are scheduled for a revetting interview, you can expect to be asked questions that are similar to those that you already answered in your original interview with U.S. immigration officials before you entered the United States. You may also be asked questions about information in your record, like from your green card or family reunification applications. You can find more information about how to prepare for a revetting interview here.

If you have refugee status and are detained by ICE, the government may try to do a refugee revetting interview while you are detained. If you have a lawyer, you should insist that the lawyer be allowed to attend the interview. The government can call your lawyer if you know their phone number and have them participate over the phone. For more information about what to do if you have refugee status and you are detained by ICE, click here.

Impact on Green Card Applications

Beginning in late February 2026, USCIS officers started asking revetting-related questions during some refugees’ green card application interviews. If you are scheduled for a green card interview, you should attend the interview and be prepared to answer questions related to your original refugee application. You may want to review IRAP’s guidance on preparing for a refugee revetting interview here.

Currently, all green card applications filed by refugees who arrived in the U.S. between January 21, 2021 and February 20, 2025 are paused due to the refugee revetting policy. The government has said that the pause will end for refugees who have been revetted, but many refugees who have attended revetting interviews still have not received decisions on their applications.

Notices of Intent to Terminate Refugee Status (NOITs)

Some refugees have received a letter from USCIS called a “Notice of Intent to Terminate Refugee Status” (NOIT). If you receive a NOIT, it will explain that USCIS wants to take away your refugee status because they believe you did not meet the legal definition of a “refugee” when you arrived in the United States. This letter usually includes a detailed explanation of why USCIS believes they can take away your refugee status. You will have 30 days to respond to the notice, either in writing or by requesting an additional interview.

If you receive a NOIT,  it is very important that you respond by the deadline. You should consult with a qualified immigration attorney if possible. You can reach out to IRAP for help by using our chatbot. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here. Note: IRAP cannot guarantee the quality of services provided by attorneys on these lists.

Termination of Refugee Status and Removal Hearings

Some refugees who have received a Notice of Intent to Terminate Refugee Status (NOIT) are later getting another letter that says it is a final termination notice. If you receive this letter, it will explain that USCIS has made a final decision to take away your refugee status. The letter  will say that you are no longer considered a refugee.

If you receive a final termination notice, you will likely also receive a document called a “Notice to Appear.” This notice will explain that the government wants to deport you through immigration court proceedings. The notice will give a date, time, and place for your first court date. This is usually close to the bottom of the page. If there is a court date listed, it is very important that you go to court on that day and time.

If you receive a final termination notice and/or a Notice to Appear in immigration court, you should consult with a qualified immigration attorney if possible. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here. Note: IRAP cannot guarantee the quality of services provided by attorneys on these lists.

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 carry out 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.

Refugees in Minnesota are continuing to receive notices related to the revetting of their cases, as described in this article. If you are scheduled for an interview or receive a notice telling you the government wants to take away your refugee status, you should consult with a qualified immigration attorney if possible. We also recommend reaching out to your resettlement agency for help, or to be connected to additional resources.

You can reach out to IRAP for help by using our chatbot. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here. Note: IRAP cannot guarantee the quality of services provided by attorneys on these lists.

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)