A recent development emerged from a federal District Court in Minnesota this Wednesday, involving the arrest and detention of individuals legally admitted to the United States under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

Judge John Tunheim has taken action by issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Trump administration, effectively barring the arrest and detention of individuals within the defined group. This group is part of a class-action lawsuit.

The judge’s order also mandates the release of those currently held in detention.

Here’s some additional context:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) initiated a program in Minnesota known as “Operation Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening,” or “Operation PARRIS.” This program led to the detention of refugees who had been legally admitted to the U.S. but had not yet transitioned to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, often occurring without prior notice or judicial warrants.

Here’s some added background: 

Earlier this month, the Trump administration launched an operation to target and reexamine the legal status of thousands of refugees in Minnesota who have not yet secured permanent residency status. The Trump administration argued that the “sweeping initiative” intended to reevaluate refugee cases “through new background checks and intensive verification of refugee claims.”

The program, launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), was dubbed “Operation Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening” (“Operation PARRIS”) in Minnesota. Under this program, DHS began arresting and detaining refugees lawfully admitted to the United States who had not yet adjusted to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, often without notice or warrants.

Plaintiffs sued, arguing that operation allowed the arrest and detention of refugees who have already undergone rigorous background checks and vetting and were merely awaiting their green cards. None have been charged with any ground for removal from the country.