What is Happening to Refugees in Minnesota?

Refugees who arrived in Minnesota between 2021 and 2025 are facing targeted enforcement actions under a new Department of Homeland Security initiative called Operation PARRIS (Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening).

Under this operation, federal immigration agents are reexamining refugee cases through new background checks, intensive verification, and reinterviews of refugees’ original stories of persecution. The initial focus is on approximately 5,600 refugees in Minnesota who haven’t yet been granted lawful permanent resident status (green cards), although many have pending applications.

Although these individuals entered the United States through a legal and highly vetted refugee process through the US Refugee Admissions Program, many are now being detained—often without explanation. This treatment is unjust, harmful, and unacceptable.

Detentions Are Already Underway

Detentions related to Operation PARRIS began on January 9. Our resettlement network estimates that more than 100 refugees across Minnesota have already been detained, with many transferred to detention facilities in Texas within 24 hours of arrest.

The Department of Homeland Security has described Minnesota as “ground zero” for this nationwide effort, which it claims is intended to reduce fraud. However, the impact on refugee families has been swift and devastating.

Arrive Ministries clients—who have lawful refugee status—are among those detained. Affected families come from Central America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, with no single country of origin predominating.

As a result:

• Families are being separated

• Parents are missing work

• Children are missing school

• Individuals are being transferred out of state with little notice

Our community is grieving the trauma being re-inflicted on people who already survived persecution, war, and displacement.

Conditions in Detention

Beginning January 17, several of our clients were released from detention in Minneapolis and Texas and were expected to find their own way home. After speaking with these families, we learned troubling details about their experiences.

Families reported minimal food, 24-hour surveillance by armed officers, confinement in cells or holding facilities for multiple days, being required to retell their original story of persecution during reinterviews.

In many cases, clients were not told why they were detained or why they were released.

Refugees are admitted to the United States only after years of rigorous screening, background checks, and interviews. They are here legally.

What is happening now is retraumatizing men, women, and children who already endured unimaginable harm before fleeing their home countries. 

What Refugees Should Know

Arrive Ministries is sharing information with refugee communities, advocating for these practices to end, and providing care, guidance, and legal support to affected families.

Refugees should be aware:

• Know their rights

• They do not have to allow entry to anyone without a valid warrant

• Make a family preparedness plan in case of detention, including a Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA) to appoint a caregiver for children.

Arrive Ministries provides immigration legal assistance to refugees and immigrants living in Minnesota. If you or someone you know needs legal support, contact our team.

How You Can Help

Use your voice
Contact your members of Congress and urge them to support refugee neighbors and demand accountability.

Show up for refugee families
Check in, offer companionship, bring a warm meal, groceries, or needed household items.

Give generously
Donate to the Refugee Neighbors Belong Fund to help families with essentials, legal support, and urgent needs.

Support immigrant-owned businesses
Choose immigrant-owned shops, restaurants, and services.

Get your church community involved
Connect your church to Arrive Ministries to learn how to support refugee neighbors.

Pray
Hold our refugee neighbors and their families in prayer.