Jailing Refugees

Arbitrary Detention of Refugees in the US Who Fail to Adjust to Permanent Resident Status

I. Overview

II. Recommendations

III. Methodology

IV. Legal Context

V. The Rationale for Automatic Permanent Residence for Resettled Refugees

VI. Findings: Arbitrary and Indefinite Detention of Unadjusted Refugees

Resettled Refugees Have Fled War and Upheaval

Many Resettled Refugees Do Not Know of the Need to Adjust their Legal Status

Indefinite Detention of Refugees Upsets Families and Disrupts the Lives of Children

Detention Conditions Are Highly Stressful for Refugees

Detention is Indefinite and Administrative Delays are Common

Detention of Unadjusted Refugees is Unnecessarily Costly

VII. Conclusion

VIII. Acknowledgements

Appendix: Human Rights Watch’s Proposed Legislative Modifications to INA §§ 207-209