A federal judge has extended an order protecting Minnesota refugees from arrest and deportation, converting a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim ruled that the Trump administration's new policy would turn the 'American Dream into a dystopian nightmare' for refugees who entered the country legally.

During a hearing, the judge expressed disbelief at the Department of Homeland Security's interpretation of immigration law, which would require refugees to return to federal custody one year after admission for green card application reviews. The ruling applies only to Minnesota but addresses broader implications of the Feb. 18 national policy change. Attorney Kimberly Grano stated that refugees can now live without fear of government abduction.

Tunheim's 66-page opinion emphasized that decades-old promises to refugees fleeing persecution would be broken without congressional authorization. The Trump administration called the ruling 'lawless and activist,' with Homeland Security asserting its commitment to screening and vetting. The judge cited specific cases, including one refugee who was shackled, interrogated, and abandoned in Texas after being told someone had struck his car. The administration maintains it has the right to arrest potentially tens of thousands of refugees nationwide.