A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from detaining refugees in Minnesota following a series of arrests that sparked widespread fear. In recent weeks, more than 100 lawfully resettled refugees in the state were detained, some flown to detention centers in Texas and then abruptly released. Many were left to navigate their way home without assistance, according to attorneys representing the cases. US District Judge John R. Tunheim ruled on Wednesday that the administration must halt its arrests and detentions of legally resettled refugees in Minnesota while a class-action lawsuit proceeds. He also ordered the immediate release of all refugees held in Minnesota and those sent to Texas to return within five days. The lawsuit challenges the administration’s new policy, known as “Operation Parris,” which aims to “re-vet” thousands of refugee cases using intensive background checks. The Department of Homeland Security has said that about 5,600 refugees who resettled in the US but have not yet become permanent residents are subject to this process. One plaintiff, identified as D. Doe, described his arrest at home. “I was at home with my family when a man in plain clothes said I had hit his car. When I went outside, I was surrounded by armed men and arrested,” Doe said. He was detained in Minnesota, then flown to Texas for questioning about his refugee status, and eventually released. “I fled my home country because of government repression. I can’t believe it’s happening again here,” Doe added. Doe’s wife, also a refugee, stayed with friends out of fear that agents would return to their home. Stories like theirs have caused panic in Minnesota’s refugee communities, leaving many afraid to leave their homes or go to work due to aggressive immigration sweeps. Refugees undergo years of extensive vetting before arriving in the US. Flights are coordinated with federal authorities, and families expect a secure resettlement process. Experts say Operation Parris upends that system, detaining legally present refugees without warning. Michele Garnett McKenzie, executive director of The Advocates for Human Rights, called the policy “an unprecedented assault on core human rights enshrined in the 1951 convention and the 1980 Refugee Act.” She praised the court ruling as a critical step in protecting vulnerable populations. Lawyers said the detentions often left families scrambling to locate loved ones and secure legal aid. Most refugees do not have immigration attorneys after resettlement. In several cases, detainees were flown across states and released without belongings, money, or documents. Some were even released at night, leaving family members unaware of their whereabouts. “One client believed he was being deported to his home country after being flown from Texas. He was shocked to find himself back in Minnesota,” McKenzie said. Another refugee was left in Texas without basic necessities, highlighting the chaos caused by the policy. Judge Tunheim noted the human toll in his ruling. “The court finds that the threat of irreparable harm favors immediate relief in this case. The stories of terror and trauma recounted by named plaintiffs make this harm impossible to ignore,” he said. The Trump administration has not responded publicly to the court’s order. Meanwhile, the ruling allows refugees to remain free while the legal challenge continues, offering temporary relief for those affected by the controversial “Operation Parris.” The case underscores ongoing tensions over US immigration policies, raising questions about the treatment of lawfully resettled refugees and the limits of federal authority in enforcing new background checks. Advocates hope the ruling will protect vulnerable populations and prevent further trauma caused by sudden, unexplained detentions.