Statement on the US Detention of Refugees

Statement on the US Detention of Refugees Scripture calls us to welcome the stranger and protect the vulnerable, and to honor the dignity of those who seek refuge among us. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness is deeply concerned by reports that refugees who have been lawfully admitted to the United States are being detained. Families who have already been welcomed into safety and passed extensive screening should not be uprooted again, separated from the communities supporting them, or made to live under renewed fear and uncertainty. Scripture calls us to welcome the stranger and protect the vulnerable, and to honor the dignity of those who seek refuge among us. We believe our nation must not undo the safety it has already promised, but instead uphold justice, compassion, and the rule of law for our newest neighbors. On January 9, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Operation “Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening” (PARRIS), which reopens and intensively re-examines certain refugee cases after resettlement. The operation’s initial focus is reported to be approximately 5,600 refugees in Minnesota who remain in refugee status while awaiting green cards. In recent days, refugee-serving organizations have reported that refugees, including children, have been detained, with limited public information about the standards being applied, the scope of enforcement, or the due process protections available. This is not a routine administrative review. It is a sweeping action that undermines the promise of protection the United States makes when it resettles refugees. It is unjust to detain people who are here legally, and it is especially cruel to subject families to detention and secrecy after they have already survived persecution and displacement. Just as importantly, these actions risk communicating to the world and to refugee communities that the United States will not honor the protection it has promised. They reflect a deeply troubling and cold-hearted turn toward a refugee policy shaped more by suspicion than by compassion, and they weaken the moral credibility of our nation’s commitment to welcome those who have fled persecution. The United States has made binding commitments under international law to protect refugees; this operation contradicts those commitments. Our denomination’s stance is clear and longstanding. Presbyterians have repeatedly affirmed the call to welcome refugees, to support their resettlement, to seek family reunification, and to oppose policies that endanger refugees or return them involuntarily to harm. Across decades of General Assembly action, the PC(USA) and our predecessor denominations have urged the United States to uphold humane refugee policy, uphold the rule of law, and resist cruelty and discrimination. The Office of Public Witness calls on the administration to: Immediately halt detentions of lawfully resettled refugees connected to Operation PARRIS Guarantee due process, including access to legal counsel and clear, timely procedures Provide transparency about the legal authority, criteria, and implementation of this operation Protect family unity and ensure refugees are not isolated from their communities and sponsors Reaffirm the U.S. commitment to refugee protection, rather than weakening it through fear-based enforcement We urge Congress to conduct immediate oversight, demand public answers, and ensure that refugee policy is carried out humanely and lawfully. We call on Presbyterians and people of faith to continue to stand with refugees, support resettlement communities, and live out Christ’s call to love our neighbors. In this moment, we urge our nation to choose welcome over suspicion, truth over secrecy, and hope over fear.