U.S. Federal Judge John Tunheim on January 28 temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's administration from detaining refugees in Minnesota who are waiting for permanent resident status. The judge also ordered the release of those who have been detained.
The Trump administration has deployed thousands of federal immigration agents to Minnesota, a Democratic state, as part of a broader operation that has drawn criticism after the deaths of two citizens in a police raid.
In January, the authorities launched a programme for retrospective verification of legal status about 5 600 refugees, who have not yet obtained green cards.
In his January 27 ruling, Judge Tunheim said the government can Continue to review the status of refugeesbut shall not detain or imprison them.