In an unprecedented escalation of immigration enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been arresting legally resettled refugees in Minnesota and flying them to detention centers in Texas under Operation PARRIS, a move that has prompted a federal court to intervene. The operation, announced on January 9, 2026, targets refugees who have undergone thorough vetting and hold legal status, leading to widespread fear and legal challenges.
Armed ICE agents have been conducting warrantless arrests in Minnesota, including cases like that of Andrea, a Venezuelan refugee detained outside her aunt’s home in Minneapolis. Despite presenting her driver’s license and refugee documents, she was taken into custody and flown to Houston, where she was held for days before being released without her ID. Similarly, a five-year-old boy and his father were arrested in their driveway, highlighting the operation’s reach into families.
Refugee status has traditionally been considered secure, granted after extensive background checks before arrival in the U.S. However, Operation PARRIS involves reinterviewing refugees at the one-year mark, with ICE detaining them indefinitely to pressure self-deportation. Lawyers describe this as legally unprecedented, as refugees typically adjust to permanent residency without issue. The administration claims it is reexamining cases for fraud, but advocates argue it is a tactic to instill fear.
Texas has become a central hub for this operation, with ICE flights from Minneapolis surging to 38 in January 2026, 30 of which landed in Texas. The state’s leadership has facilitated the expansion, reopening detention facilities like the one in Dilley and planning mega-centers to hold thousands. This aligns with Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s support for Trump’s mass-deportation agenda, including deputizing state officers to assist ICE.
On January 28, 2026, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order halting the arrests and ordering the immediate release of detained refugees in Minnesota and those in Texas within five days. The lawsuit, filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project and others, alleges that the arrests violate due process rights. Judge Tunheim emphasized that refugees have legal rights to live peacefully without fear of arbitrary detention.
The operation has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and lawmakers. Congressman Joaquin Castro visited detention centers, criticizing the targeting of vulnerable individuals. Communities in both Minnesota and Texas have mobilized to support released detainees, providing shelter and transportation. The psychological impact on refugees, many of whom fled persecution, has been profound, with some comparing their treatment to conditions in their home countries.
If allowed to proceed, Operation PARRIS could set a precedent for revoking refugee status en masse, undermining U.S. commitments to refugee protection. The court order is temporary, and a preliminary injunction hearing is pending, which will determine the operation’s future. Advocates continue to monitor conditions in Texas detention centers, where reports of inadequate care and prolonged detention persist.
As the legal battle unfolds, the episode underscores the tension between immigration enforcement and human rights, with implications for the estimated 200,000 refugees potentially affected. The outcome may influence broader immigration policies and the treatment of legally present immigrants in the U.S.
