A U.S. federal judge issued a temporary block on January 28, 2026, against a Trump-era immigration enforcement program in Minnesota that authorized the detention of refugees awaiting permanent resident status. The ruling by U.S. District Judge John Tunheim mandates the immediate release of individuals detained under Operation PARRIS, a status review initiative launched earlier this month.
Judge Tunheim emphasized that refugees legally admitted to the U.S. have undergone extensive vetting and possess rights to work and live without fear of unwarranted detention. "At its best, America serves as a haven of individual liberties," he wrote, criticizing the policy for undermining this principle.
The program, which targeted approximately 5,600 refugees in Minnesota without green cards, faced sharp backlash following reports of civilian deaths during enforcement actions. While the ruling permits continued status reviews, it bars arrests or detentions without cause.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, architect of the Trump administration\'s immigration agenda, denounced the decision as "judicial sabotage of democracy" on social media platform X.
Advocates hailed the order as a critical safeguard for refugee rights, noting that affected individuals had already cleared multi-agency approvals before resettlement. The case highlights ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement strategies and legal protections for vulnerable populations.
