Boston-area refugees in limbo as Trump admin. upends program
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When Abdulrahmn came to Boston, he told his case specialist he wanted to learn everything he could about American culture.
- The Sudanese refugee sought to explore the city's museums, master English and find work in his new country.
Why it matters: Thousands of New England-based refugees like him are now at risk of getting detained and deported under President Trump's second term, despite being vetted and approved to enter legally.
- Abdulrahmn is trying to build a life in Boston as the federal government upends the nation's 45-year-old refugee resettlement program.
What they're saying: "Boston is home," he told Axios.
- Axios agreed to identify Abdulrahmn only by his middle name because he fears retaliation from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
State of play: The International Institute of New England, which helped Abdulrahmn find housing and work here, is suing the Trump administration over a policy change that would let ICE agents detain refugees who have not obtained legal permanent residency after a year in the U.S.
- The policy states that refugees' status is subject to a mandatory review after a year.
The other side: A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement to Axios that the change signals a shift "to the toughest and most secure enhanced screening and vetting policies for our asylum and refugee processes."
- "Our war on fraud remains undeterred despite these types of baseless activist lawsuits."
Flashback: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires refugees to request legal permanent residency after a year, but in the past, officials would waive their green card interviews because refugees had already been vetted, says Jeff Thielman, president and CEO of IINE.
- Refugees typically apply closer to the one-year mark lest they risk applying too early, getting rejected and having to reapply and pay application fees again.
- After President Trump re-entered office, USCIS started requiring the interviews last year, before pausing green card applications for refugees altogether.
In November, the Trump administration announced plans to re-review the status of all refugees who arrived under the Biden administration after an Afghan national allegedly shot and killed a National Guard member and maimed another in Washington, D.C.
- The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, wasn't a refugee. He was granted asylum last year after entering the country under a temporary humanitarian parole program.
Somali refugees in Minnesota were arrested and sent to Dilley, Texas, last month despite having legal status.
- They were ultimately released with no ride back to Minnesota.
- Thielman said IINE aims to prevent a similar situation in Massachusetts.
Zoom in: Abdulrahmn spent six years in a Nigerian refugee camp before getting approval to come to the U.S.
- He arrived in early 2024, his limbs freezing despite wearing a jacket.
- With help from IINE, Abdulrahmn moved into a home with other refugees and enrolled in English classes.
- Five months later, he landed a job at a Boston restaurant, where he's worked since.
What we're watching: Abdulrahmn applied for a green card in early 2025.
- He's still waiting for a response from USCIS.
Abdulrahmn dreamt of exploring Boston and traveling to New York City and D.C., he said through an Arabic interpreter.
- Now, he and his roommates go to work and come straight home.
- "I don't try to go anywhere else because I'm worried," he said. "I feel I'm under pressure."