New York, NY, January 16, 2026 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is deeply concerned by the U.S. government’s announcement that it has begun to re-review and potentially terminate the protection of refugees who arrived through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and who do not yet have permanent residence. Refugees—including children—have reportedly been detained and transferred away from their homes and communities. Such sweeping, arbitrary actions undermine fundamental American values of fairness, dignity, and the rule of law.
Refugees resettled through USRAP go through rounds of interviews with specially trained U.S. officers, often over multiple years, to determine that they meet all legal requirements as refugees and merit one of the highly limited resettlement slots America has made available for the world’s most vulnerable refugees. They also undergo the most rigorous security vetting of any group entering the country. Before they ever set foot on American soil, they complete extensive background checks conducted by multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the Department of Defense.
Removing lawfully admitted refugees from their homes not only disregards these extensive vetting and security checks—it erodes trust, destabilizes families, communities, and workplaces, and wastes taxpayer dollars and government resources.
The IRC urges the US government to end these operations and reverse the re-review policy. Protecting due process, honoring humanitarian commitments, and safeguarding the stability of close‑knit American communities are essential to who we are as a nation.
Hans Van de Weerd, Senior Vice President, Resettlement, Asylum and Integration at the IRC, said: “Families who have already endured unimaginable hardship deserve protection, not retraumatization. America’s strength has always come from our commitment to fairness, the rule of law, and the belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity. Rigorous vetting procedures for those coming into the U.S. are critical and have been an essential part of the refugee program. When refugees who have been rigorously vetted and lawfully admitted are taken from their homes and detained, it violates not only their rights—it undermines the trust and stability of the American communities that welcomed them.
“We urge the administration to uphold the values that define us as a nation and to honor the dignity of every family that has sought safety in America.”