The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have launched a new fraud investigation in Minnesota aimed at reexamining thousands of refugee cases, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The initiative, called Operation PARRIS — short for Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening — involves new background checks and expanded verification steps, including reinterviews and reviews of refugee claims, USCIS said.
The initial focus is Minnesota’s 5,600 refugees who have not yet been granted lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as a green card, USCIS said. A newly established USCIS vetting center is leading the operation with adjudicators assigned to what the agency described as “thorough” checks and reviews.
DHS said the effort began in mid-December and that officials have started referring suspected fraud and other crimes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In a statement, a DHS spokesperson described Minnesota as a key front in combating immigration fraud and said the administration will prioritize “American citizens and the rule of law.”
USCIS said the operation is part of bigger adjustments to screening that are happening because of Executive Order 14161 and Presidential Proclamation 10949. These orders tell government agencies to make vetting stronger to protect against terrorism and public safety concerns.
The agency also pointed to a previous investigation, Operation Twin Shield, which USCIS said uncovered widespread immigration fraud in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.
