Applaud the Judge Protecting Refugees in Minnesota

A federal judge just stood up for refugees — and for the promise America makes to those seeking safety.

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim extended an order protecting lawfully admitted refugees in Minnesota from being arrested and deported under a new Trump administration policy. In a powerful ruling, he made clear that refugees who followed the law and passed rigorous background checks cannot be suddenly detained and uprooted based on a sweeping reinterpretation of immigration statutes.

For decades, the United States has told refugees fleeing persecution that if they come here legally, they can build a new life in peace. Judge Tunheim recognized that abruptly arresting refugees — even flying some across the country in shackles — violates both that promise and basic constitutional protections.
As he wrote, the government cannot “use a new and erroneous statutory interpretation to terrorize refugees” who were welcomed under existing law.

This ruling ensures that, for now, refugees in Minnesota can live without fear of being “snatched off the street” while their lawful status is reviewed. It reinforces a core principle: executive power is not unlimited, and policies that upend lives must comply with the Constitution and with Congress’s intent.

Refugees contribute to our communities, strengthen our economy, and embody the resilience at the heart of the American story. Protecting their rights protects the rule of law.

Add your name to applaud Judge John Tunheim for defending due process, upholding America’s promise to refugees, and standing firm for justice and human dignity.