The Trump administration plans to reinterview tens of thousands of refugees admitted under President Biden, an unprecedented move in its broader immigration crackdown.

An internal memo says the review aims to confirm that refugees still meet admission criteria and pose no security threat.

Critics, including major refugee organizations, call the plan cruel, unnecessary, and politically motivated, noting that the administration is simultaneously prioritizing admissions of White South Africans who do not meet refugee standards.

The memo also halts pending applications for refugees seeking permanent status and emphasizes that USCIS can terminate refugee status without an appeal process, CNN has reported.

The move comes as top Trump officials argue the global asylum system is outdated and abused, framing the review as part of a push to overhaul U.S. refugee and asylum policy.