DHS Expands Detention Power for Refugees Awaiting Green Cards

Credit: Homeland Security

A memo dated February 18, 2026, from US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow and Acting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons signals an expansion of ICE’s ability to detain refugees who have not yet adjusted to lawful permanent resident status (ie. obtained a Green Card) after a year.

The directive was submitted by government lawyers in a federal court filing on Wednesday.

Under prior policy, failure to obtain...