Washington: The Trump administration has issued an internal memo that expands the authority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain certain lawfully admitted refugees, citing national security concerns.

According to Anadolu Agency, the memo, dated February 18, 2026, was signed by acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow. The document was filed in federal court on the same day as part of ongoing lawsuits challenging similar immigration policies.

The directive targets refugees already in the United States who have not obtained permanent resident status within one year of their arrival. Federal law mandates that refugees apply for a green card within this time frame. Under the new guidelines, refugees who miss this deadline must return to government custody for a case review and additional security screening.

These individuals are required to voluntarily appear for reinspection; failure to comply could result in arrest and detention. The memo has not been formally announced or published on the Department of Homeland Security or ICE websites, and DHS has yet to confirm or deny its authenticity.

The policy is introduced amidst criticism of ICE following recent budget increases and the deaths of two US citizens during enforcement operations, events that have sparked protests and calls for increased accountability.