The United States is planning to interview afresh all refugees who entered America between the fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2025. The number of refugees who are targeted in this exercise is estimated to be around 235,000.
According to a report that appeared on CNN, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services is expected to be charged with the task of reviewing and reinterviewing these refugees.
This is also according to a memo that is dated November 21 that was obtained by the US media.
“Given these concerns, USCIS has determined that a comprehensive review and a re-interview of all refugees admitted from January 20, 2021, to February 20, 2025, is warranted,” the memo stated. “When appropriate, USCIS will also review and re-interview refugees admitted outside this timeframe.”
The memo has cited what is being termed as an operational necessity to ensure refugees do not pose a national security or public threat.
“The [previous administration of former President Joe Biden had a] reckless approach that undermined the integrity of our immigration system and jeopardized the safety and security of the American people. Corrective action is now being taken to ensure those who are present in the United States deserve to be here,” the CNN quoted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
The decision to vet refugees afresh comes barely a month after the administration of President Donald Trump announced in October that it would limit the number of refugees who are admitted to the United States annually to 7,500.
These 7,500 refugees will mostly comprise of white South Africans. Last year, the annual limit was at 125,000. This limit had been set by the previous administration.
The leading countries of origin for refugees were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Syria. Unlike asylum seekers who apply for protections once they arrive at a US port of entry, refugees have been applying for legal status while they are still outside of the country.
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