White House expands detention authority for refugee rescreening process
February 19, 2026 • Google News World
Here is a rewritten version of the news article in a neutral newsroom style:
The White House has issued a new immigration memo that grants Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authority to detain refugees for further vetting. The memo, which was not attributed to any specific individual or department within the administration, outlines a plan to conduct more aggressive “rescreening” of refugees.
According to reports, this new policy could lead to the detention of thousands of legal refugees who have been living in the United States. The exact details of the policy are not yet clear, but it is believed that ICE will be conducting additional background checks and screenings on refugees who have already been approved for entry into the country.
The memo was first reported by various news outlets, including The Guardian, The New York Times, NPR, and AP News. While the White House has not released an official statement on the policy, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have confirmed that it is being implemented.
It is worth noting that the Trump administration has been critical of refugee resettlement programs in recent years, citing concerns over national security and border control. The new policy appears to be part of this broader effort to tighten immigration rules and increase scrutiny of refugees entering the country.
The U.S. government has committed $10 billion to the Board of Peace for Gaza Redevelopment, according to a separate report from The New York Times. However, this announcement is not directly related to the new refugee detention policy.
Refugees in the United States are now at risk of being arrested under the new immigration memo, according to reports from NPR and The Washington Post. The exact details of how this will work are not yet clear, but it appears that ICE will be working with local law enforcement agencies to identify and detain refugees who may be subject to further screening.
The White House has declined to comment on the specific details of the policy, citing concerns over national security and the need for ongoing vetting. However, officials from DHS have confirmed that the memo is being implemented and that it will help to ensure public safety.
Source: Google News World