Lawyer: DHS not complying with order to release detained refugees from Minnesota
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A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release detained refugees from Minnesota, but lawyers for the refugees say the government has not complied. Lawfully resettled refugees were being arrested under Operation PARRIS — short for Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening. DHS says the operation is designed to re-examine refugee cases approved in recent years. A class-action lawsuit brought by refugee advocacy groups, argues the arrests are unlawful.
In his order to pause the arrests, Judge John Tunheim wrote that refugees have a legal right to live and work in the U.S. without fear of warrantless detention.
Michelle Drake is an attorney with Berger Montague who is helping lead the case. She said later Thursday the plaintiffs will file a motion to compel the government to follow the order to release refugee detainees. Drake said the government indicated it is seeking a stay in the case, which would allow them to continue making arrests.
“The same way that the policy is unlawful to begin with, their failure and refusal to comply with the court's order is also unlawful,” said Drake.
In a post on X, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller wrote in response to the ruling “the judicial sabotage of democracy is unending.”
— Minnesota Now guest host Emily Bright and producer Aleesa Kuznetsov
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