Thank you for the question.
Yes, refugees who are designated not only cannot apply for permanent residence for five years, but they also cannot apply for travel documents for five years, in violation of the 1951 Geneva convention on refugees. In my practice I see many refugees who are desperate to see their family members, who might be in refugee camps in other countries, for example, and I think it's inhumane to deprive them of this simple basic right to have a travel document, to have a right that we take for granted—to be able to travel. I don't think there's any justification for.... Again, we're talking about people who are recognized refugees.