Trump administration expands ICE’s ability to detain legal refugees in latest memo

By Matthew Rehbein

UPDATED 1 HR 25 MIN AGO

The Department of Homeland Security is broadening federal immigration authorities’ ability to detain legal refugees who have not yet obtained green cards, citing national security concerns andthe need to ensure refugees undergo additional screening, according to a DHS memo obtained by CNN.

Immigration officersmay “arrest and detain” refugees “who have failed to adjust” to lawful permanent resident status one year after being admitted to the US,according to the Wednesday memo, which was submitted by Justice Department attorneys as part of a federal court filing.

“When a refugee is admitted to the United States, the admission is conditional and subject to a mandatory review after one year,”the memo reads, noting refugees who are detained may remain in custody “for the duration of the inspection and examination process.”

The memo, issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow and Acting US Immigration andCustoms Enforcement Director Todd Lyons, rescinds previous government policy regarding refugees who have been in the country for one year.

Failure to obtain a green card after one year was not grounds for detention or removalfrom the US under previous policy, and refugees who were arrested had to either be released within 48 hours or the DHS was required to initiate removal proceedings.

“Refugees may be considered to have voluntarily returned to custody” by submitting application paperwork and appearing at scheduled appointments with immigration services, according to the new memo.

Previous department policy “created a population of conditional refugees who had not been fully re-screened, with associated public safety and national security risks,” the memo says, and the new “detain-and-inspect requirement ensures that refugees are re-vetted after one year.”

Refugee resettlement groups promptly decried the new policy.

“This memo was done in secret, with zero coordination with the organizations that serve refugees,” said Beth Oppenheim, CEO of refugee agency HIAS. “This policy is a transparent effort to detain and potentially deport thousands of people who are legally present in this country, people the US government itself welcomed after years of extreme vetting,” she added.

The government court filing that included the DHS memo is part of a federal case in Minnesota in which a judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from targeting an estimated 5,600 lawful refugees in the state who are awaiting green cards. A hearing in that case is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

The International Refugee Assistance Project, one of the plaintiffs in the federal Minnesota case, says it is challenging the new refugee policy.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/19/politics/trump-refugees-memo-detain-immigration-hnk

Primary Election Issues: Incomplete Ballot Applications and Separate State Probe

Wed, February 18, 2026 at 9:45

SAN ANTONIO - Investigators with the Texas Attorney General’s Election Integrity Divisionexecuted search warrants in multiple counties this week, including Bexar County.

One of those served was political consultant Joann Ramon, who is working on several local races, including County Judge Peter Sakai’s campaign against former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

As part of our review of campaign finance records and ballot request packets tied to those races,we identified a separate issue affecting voters who applied to vote by mail.

Bexar County Elections Administrator Michelle Carewsaid hundreds of mail ballot applications were rejected for missing required information, including the checkbox selecting a Democratic or Republican primary and whether the voter wanted ballots for the entire election cycle.

Carew saidthe rejected applications came from packets sent out by Nirenberg’s campaign.

Nirenberg’s campaign consultant,Dr. Laura Barberena, sent the following statement:

“Our application was incomplete due to a missing check box. Immediately upon learning of this, we contacted the Elections Department and called and texted every voter who received our application to ensure they could reapply for a ballot before the deadline.”

Another San Antonio Political consultant, Veronica Gonzalez, said customized applications sent by campaigns can create problems for voters.

“The problem with candidates and campaigns customizingthese applications for voters to request their ballots by mail, it creates a new barrier,” Gonzalez said. “Because when there is an error made, then the voter is going to receive a letter from the elections office. It could cause confusion because as far as they knew, they already received an application, filled out the application and sent it in. And with every day that passes, the deadline for them to correct that error is narrowing.”

Tonight the elections department said it’s sending rejection letters along with new official applications to all affected voters.

As of Wednesday, 1,986 mail ballots had been received in Bexar County. Of those,702 were from Republican voters and 1,284 were from Democratic voters.

Election officials are urging voters who applied to vote by mail to verify the status of their application ahead of the March 3 primary.

Nirenberg’s campaign consultant said the rejected applications are not connected to Ramon & Associates.

https://foxsanantonio.com/news/yami-investigates/primary-election-issues-incomplete-ballot-applications-and-separate-state-probe

Here we go again!

Federal judge will weigh extending protections for refugees lawfully in Minnesota who are facing arrest and deportation

Mark Freie2 hours ago

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim blocked the government last month, saying plaintiffs "were likely to prevail"

A federal judge will hear arguments Thursday on whether or not to further block a federal immigration operation targeting refugees who are lawfully in Minnesota.

Advocates sued last month over Opeartion PARRIS, acronym for Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening.That focused on reviewing cases of 5,600 Minnesota refugees yet to be granted permanent resident status. They claimed ICE agents went door to door to make the arrests, saying many of those arrested weren't given access to attorneys, and were released from Texas detention centers with no way to get back to Minnesota.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim blocked the government from targeting these refugees last month, saying the plaintiffs in the case were likely to prevail on their claims “that their arrest and detention, and the policy that purports to justify them, are unlawful.” His Jan. 28 temporary restraining order will expire Feb. 25 unless he grants a more permanent preliminary injunction.

The lawsuit alleges that ICE officers went door to door under Operation PARRIS arresting refugees and sending them to detention centers in Texas, without access to attorneys. Some were later released on the streets of Texas and left to find their own way back to Minnesota, they said.

The judge rejected the government's claim that it had the legal right to arrest and detain refugees who haven't obtained their green cards within a year of arriving in the U.S. He said that would be illogical and nonsensical, given that refugees can't apply for permanent residency until they've been in the U.S. for a year.

Tunheim noted in his order, which applies only in Minnesota, that refugees are extensively vetted by multiple agencies before being resettled in the U.S. He wrote that none arrested in the operation had been deemed a danger to the community or a flight risk, nor had any been charged with crimes that could be grounds for deportation.

The judge cited several cases involving plaintiffs named in the lawsuit, including one man identified only as U.H.A., a refugee with no criminal history. He was admitted into the U.S. in 2024 and was arrested by ICE while driving to work on Jan. 18 this year. “He was pulled over, ordered out of his car, handcuffed, and detained, without a warrant or apparent justification,” the judge wrote.

Tunheim stressed that the refugees impacted by his order were admitted into the U.S. because of persecution in their home countries. He prohibited further arrests under Operation PARRIS and ordered that all detainees still in custody from it be released and returned to Minnesota.

“They are not committing crimes on our streets, nor did they illegally cross the border.Refugees have a legal right to be in the United States, a right to work, a right to live peacefully — and importantly, a right not to be subjected to the terror of being arrested and detained without warrants or cause in their homes or on their way to religious services or to buy groceries,” he wrote.

“At its best, America serves as a haven of individual liberties in a world too often full of tyranny and cruelty. We abandon that ideal when we subject our neighbors to fear and chaos,” he continued.

In a follow-up order Feb. 9, Tunheim rejected a government motion to lift the temporary restraining order.

https://www.audacy.com/wccoradio/news/local/judge-weighs-extending-protections-for-refugees-in-minnesota

USFK Fighters Patrol West Sea, Sparking US-China Standoff Near ADIZ

US and Chinese jets faced off over overlapping air defense zones as USFK conducted independent training without informing South Korea

By Yang Ji-ho

Published 2026.02.19. 22:51

Updated 2026.02.19. 23:30

As the US Forces Korea (USFK) conducted a large-scale aerial training exercise over the West Sea, asituation emerged on the 19th where US and Chinese forces faced off near the Korean Peninsula after China scrambled fighter jets in response.

According to multiple military sources familiar with the matter,over 10 USFK F-16 fighter jets departed from Osan Air Base on the 18th and maneuvered to the overlapping areaof the South Korean and Chinese Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) over the West Sea.As the US fighters approached the Chinese ADIZ (CADIZ), both sides' forces reportedly faced off temporarily over the West Sea after China also scrambled fighter jets.

The US side notified South Korea of the training in advance but did not explain specific plans or objectives, according to sources. Military authorities are understood to have conveyed concerns to the US after becoming aware of the training.

It is unusual for USFK's air assets to conduct independent training over the West Sea, and military assessments both inside and outside the military suggest this move is aimed at China. In November of last year, USFK Commander Xavier Brunson stated, "South Korea can impose costs on the Russian Northern Fleet, the Chinese Northern Theater Command, and the North Korean military," among other remarks, as US authorities have continuously hinted that USFK could also play a role in countering China and Russia.

This training was a US-only exercise without the participation of the South Korean Air Force, and USFK reportedly did not inform South Korean forces of the training plans or objectives.

On the 18th, multiple USFK fighter jets that took off from Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province,were confirmed on the 19th to have deployed to the West Sea and conducted patrol flightsup to the midpoint of the South Korean and Chinese ADIZs.As the US fighters approached the CADIZ, both US and Chinese fighters were reportedly engaged in a temporary standoff over the West Sea after China scrambled its jets in response.

The USFK fighters' entry near the CADIZ is considered unusual. An ADIZ is a line arbitrarily set to identify aerial threats early and, while different from sovereign airspace under international law, it is international practice for military aircraft to notify flight plans in advance before approaching another country's ADIZ. South Korea's ADIZ was established by the US in March 1951 during the height of the Korean War, while the Chinese ADIZ over the East China Sea was unilaterally set by China in November 2013.

https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/02/19/WXCDROA7ZFAEHHFKNATKMCU2AA/

Bill Melugin

@BillMelugin_

BREAKING:

This is wild one.

DHS announces the ICE arrest of a Liberian illegal alien who they say was working as a Minnesota corrections officer while also being AWOL from the PA National Guard, all while masquerading as a U.S. citizen despite having no legal status in the U.S. DHS says 45-year-old Morris Brown was identified as part of the major operation into MN investigating aliens involved in fraud.

He’s also alleged to have committed marriage fraud and made repeated false claims to U.S. immigration authorities.

Full details 👇🏻

Image

5:36 PM · Feb 18, 2026

·

652.3K

Views

https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2024251688530354663?s=20

Quinn Hughes' OT goal sends U.S. to Olympic men's hockey semis

2/18/26

MILAN –When the U.S. gave up a tying goal to Sweden with 91 seconds left in a men's hockey quarterfinals game at the Olympics, even the most seasoned players were on edge.

"That's as nervous as I've been ever in a hockey game," Dylan Larkin said.

After plenty of nerves and extra hockey the U.S. is moving on to the semifinals.

Quinn Hughes scored in overtime to put the U.S. past Sweden 2-1 after Mika Zibanejad scored to tie it late in regulation.

"Just relief," Hughes said.

After Canada did its part, albeit with a roller coaster of drama and emotion, the U.S. bounced back from Zibanejad scoring to keep alive the possibility of the North American rivals meeting in the gold medal game Sunday.

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced, none more important than a grade-A chance by Lucas Raymond during the second period.

The U.S. will face Slovakia in one semifinal Friday. Just before that, also unbeaten Canada plays Finland in the other.

"It's gonna be an extremely hard test," Hughes said of Slovakia. "They've been rolling. They're competitive. They're fast. Doesn't matter how many superstars you have, just the desperation level's so high. It's Game 7 every night now."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

https://www.espn.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/47969842/quinn-hughes-scores-ot-send-usa-sweden-olympic-men-hockey-semifinals-vs-slovakia

End Wokeness

@EndWokeness

ICE nailed it with this ad

8:53 PM · Feb 18, 2026

·269.8K

Views

https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/2024301214255423590?s=20

Click video 2x to play it

>>24278453. They did nail it!

Gates & WEF-Backed Vaccine Fund Bankrolls Moderna’s Universal Pandemic Vaccine Research$54.3 million is being quietly deployed.

NATALIE WINTERS

FEB 19, 2026

In a newly announceddeal that should alarm anyone who caresabout the integrity of global public health policy, the —Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has committed up to $54.3 million in public and philanthropic money to fund apivotal Phase 3clinical trial Moderna’smRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccine candidate.

Taken at face value, CEPI’s press release reads like a feel-good story: rapid action against a deadly pathogen, equitable access, cutting-edge science.

Yet the deeper you look, the morethis “global health mission” resembles something far more structured— a quasi-institutional conduit that directs public money into private vaccine platforms while positioning corporate players to reap future returns.

From Davos Launchpad to Pandemic Industrial Policy

CEPI didn’t emerge organically out of grassroots public health needs. It was launched in2017during the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, billed as apublic-private coalitiondesigned to “stimulate, finance, and coordinate vaccine development” for epidemic threats. Thearchitecturewas, from the outset, a Davos-styleblend of governments, large philanthropic capital, and industry participation.

Among CEPI’s most influential backers — and largest funders — is theBill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the most powerful institutions in global vaccine policy. Gates’ approach to pandemic response — platform technologies, rapid timeline targets, advance procurement — now defines the way CEPI operates.

The Moderna Deal: Public Risk, Private Reward

CEPI’s announcement touts its contribution to Moderna’s pandemic influenza vaccine candidate. CEO Richard Hatchett said the partnershipcould “shave months off the response time, deliver vaccines at scale, and enable equitable access for all” —language that positions the deal as both innovative and altruistic.

Meanwhile, Moderna’s own CEO, Stéphane Bancel, praised CEPI’s support as critical toadvancing the candidate and fulfilling what is known as the 100 Days Mission— a global benchmark to develop and deploy safe, effective vaccineswithin 100 days of identifying a pathogen.

(it won’t be hard to create a new vaccine in 100 days, because they and their funders “philanthropic” and world governments have already created the virus’s & vaccine since 2017. Because they created the Covid virus and vaccine,the mad scientist'swill continue to create more and more Pandemics and Vaccines, imo they have already created 100 or 1,000’s of disease and new vaccines since 2017. A special benefit to Pharma and the donors, can quietly have their vaccines and drugs they have already created; to kill millions of dead normies. They never forget their mission of reducing the population, which imo besides the money,they appreciate killing people more.)

Those are high-sounding goals.But the mechanics matter.

Phase 3 trialsare not speculative startup science — they are late-stage, registration-enabling clinical studies that pave the way for regulatory approval and eventual commercialization.

By underwriting this phase, CEPI iseffectively de-riskingModerna’s investment, using public and philanthropic funding to carry the financial burden of final clinical validation.

Once that hurdle is cleared,the company retainspatents, manufacturing control, and thelion’s shareof market upside— particularly inwealthy countrieswhere vaccine sales are most lucrative.

This dynamic is familiar.

During COVID-19, governments and philanthropiesfundedmuch of the research, manufacturing scale-up, and advance purchase agreements.

Pharmaceutical companies walked away withrecord revenues and enhanced valuations.

Now, the same model appears to be institutionalised: cushioned risk for industry, futureprofitsreserved for private actors.

https://nataliegwinters.substack.com/p/gates-and-wef-backed-vaccine-fund

UN Security Council members blast Israel's West Bank plans on eve of Trump's Board of Peace meeting

7:49 PM ET Feb. 18, 2026

(Long article. Israel has very few leaders that like them. But they have good points.)

Members of the United Nations Security Council called Wednesday for the Gaza ceasefire deal to become permanent and blasted Israeli efforts to expand control in the West Bank as a threat to prospects of a two-state solution, coming on the eve of President Donald Trump’s first Board of Peace gathering to discuss the future of the Palestinian territories.

What You Need To Know

• Members of the United Nations Security Council called Wednesday for the Gaza ceasefire deal to become permanent and blasted Israeli efforts to expand control in the West Bank as a threat to prospects of a two-state solution

• It comes on the eve of President Donald Trump’s first Board of Peace gathering to discuss the future of the Palestinian territories

• Trump’s new initiative and its broader ambitions to broker global conflicts have raised concerns in some countries that it may attempt to rival the U.N. Security Council

While more than 20 countries have so far accepted an invitation to join the board, close U.S.partners, including France, Germany and others, have opted not to join yetand renewed support for the U.N.

The high-level U.N. session in New York was originally scheduled for Thursday but was moved up after Trump announced the board's meeting forthe same day and it became clear that it would complicate travel plans for diplomats planning to attend both. It is a sign of the potential for overlapping and conflicting agendas between the United Nations’ most powerful body and Trump’s new initiative, whose broader ambitions to broker global conflicts have raised concerns in some countries thatit may attempt to rival the U.N. Security Council.

Pakistan, the only country on the 15-member council that also accepted an invitation to join the Board of Peace, denounced Israel’s contentious West Bank settlement project during the meeting as “null and void” and said it constitutes a “clear violation of international law.”

“Israel’s recent illegal decisions to expand its control over the West Bank are gravely disturbing,” Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said.

The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia also attended the Security Council's monthly Mideast meeting after many Arab and Islamic countries requested last week that it discuss Gaza and the West Bank before some of them head to Washington.

“Annexation is a breach of the U.N. Charter and of the most fundamental rules of international law,” Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour said. “It is a breach of President Trump’s plan, and constitutes an existential threat to ongoing peace efforts.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that attention was not on the U.N. session and that the focus of the international world would be on the Board of Peace meeting.

Saar also accused the council of being “infected with an anti-Israeli obsession” and insisted that no nation has a stronger right than its “historical and documented right to the land of the Bible.”…

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2026/02/19/un-security-council-members-blast-israel-s-west-bank-plans-on-eve-of-trump-s-board-of-peace-meeting