Trump Orders Fresh Vetting for All Refugees Admitted Under Biden
Sections of the Kenyan community in the United States have been placed on high alert after the Trump administration initiated a far-reaching review of more than 200,000 refugees who entered the country during President Joe Biden’s tenure.
According to an internal memo signed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joe Edlow, refugees admitted between January 20, 2021 and February 20, 2025 will now be required to undergo fresh interviews and enhanced vetting procedures to reassess their eligibility for protection.
In the document, Director Edlow states that the agency must “ensure the integrity of the refugee admissions process,” adding that officers will re-examine whether individuals granted entry during the Biden administration “continue to meet all statutory requirements for refugee status.”
Permanent Residency Processing Halted
The memo also confirms an immediate freeze on all permanent residence (green card) applications filed by refugees who arrived in the U.S. during the Biden era. The directive means thousands of individuals who had already begun the lengthy pathway toward citizenship will see their cases suspended indefinitely.
USCIS notes that cases from that period “require renewed scrutiny to verify the accuracy and completeness of prior screenings,” arguing that the previous administration may have “prioritised high admission totals over sufficiently rigorous interviews.”
Thousands of Kenyan Refugees Affected
The new policy is expected to impact a significant number of refugees with ties to Kenya. Thousands of individuals who departed Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps between 2021 and 2024 were resettled in the United States, many of them originally from Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
Kenya has long been one of Africa’s leading departure points for refugee resettlement. UNHCR data shows that in 2022, Kenya submitted 3,692 refugees for resettlement abroad—most of whom were accepted by the United States. In 2023, more than 2,800 refugees left Kenya for the U.S., joining family members or beginning new lives after years in camps.
All individuals from these cohorts who arrived during Biden’s presidency will now be subject to the Trump administration’s wide-ranging review.
Risk of Losing Refugee Status
The memo warns that the fresh interviews could result in termination of refugee status if USCIS officers determine that an individual “no longer qualifies for protection under U.S. law.” Refugees who lose their status could face removal proceedings, raising concerns within communities that had believed their futures in the U.S. were secure.
Immigration advocates say the policy shift may disproportionately affect East African refugees whose documentation histories are complex due to years spent in humanitarian camps.
One immigration attorney familiar with refugee cases told U.S. media that the review could create “an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty for families who have already rebuilt their lives,” adding that many may now be worried about discrepancies in paperwork from their time in Kenya.
Heightened Anxiety Among Resettled Communities
For thousands of Kenyans and other East Africans living in the United States, the new directive has triggered renewed anxiety. Several community leaders have urged affected families to remain calm but vigilant, advising them to prepare for potential interviews and to maintain up-to-date documentation.
As the Trump administration moves to implement its expansive review, the fate of more than 200,000 refugees—including many whose journeys began in Kenyan camps—remains uncertain.
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Trump Orders Fresh Vetting for All Refugees Admitted Under Biden