JRS/USA Urges Congress to End Operation PARRIS

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS/USA) joined more than 80 national, state, and local organizations in a letter to Congress condemning the administration’s Operation “Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening” (PARRIS) and calling for immediate action to protect refugee communities.

Operation PARRIS subjects already-vetted, recently resettled refugees to intensified re-interviews, arrests, and detention — often without due process or access to legal counsel. Since January 2026, these enforcement actions have disproportionately impacted refugee families in Minnesota, including children, elders, and individuals with serious medical needs.

In the letter, signatory organizations warn that Operation PARRIS undermines the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, retraumatizes people who have already fled violence and persecution, and diverts limited government resources away from lawful, humane refugee protection. Refugees impacted by the operation have been detained without explanation, transferred across state lines, and released without identification or support.

Key Requests to Congress
The letter urges Congress to:

• Terminate Operation PARRIS and halt indiscriminate refugee arrests and detentions

• Prohibit federal funding for operations that allow family detention or detention of minors

• Demand transparency and oversight of refugee arrests and re-interviews

• Investigate ICE and CBP enforcement practices, including use of force and racial profiling

• Speak out publicly to safeguard refugee communities nationwide

JRS/USA joins partners across faith, humanitarian, and refugee-led organizations in calling on Congress to uphold due process, protect refugee families, and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to providing safety to those fleeing persecution.