washington — Hours after President Trump took office, his administration reversed a Biden-era policy that banned U.S. immigration arrests at or near schools, places of worship and other places deemed “sensitive.”
The Trump administration has appointed Benjamin Huffman as acting Homeland Security Secretary, pending confirmation by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. He issued a memo on Monday reversing the Biden administration's guidance on immigration arrests in "sensitive locations."
The policy, signed by former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, instructs Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection not to operate in or near locations that "would limit people's access to essential services or participation in essential activities." Arrest unauthorized immigrants. These locations include schools; places of worship; hospitals and other medical facilities; shelters; relief centers; and public demonstrations, such as rallies and protests.
In a statement defending the end of the Biden administration's rule, the Department of Homeland Security said the Trump administration "will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement officers but instead trusts them to use common sense."
Pro-immigration advocates worry that the Biden-era rules will be repealed, warning that it would allow the Trump administration to bring mass deportation plans to churches and schools.
But the Trump administration said Monday's decision was aimed at targeting illegal immigrants with serious criminal records.
"This operation allows the brave men and women of CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens who illegally enter our country, including murderers and rapists," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. "Criminals "It will no longer be possible to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest."
Monday's action is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to remove restrictions imposed by other administrations on ICE operations as it sets the stage for what the president has promised will be the largest deportations in U.S. history. The government is expected to increase immigration arrests in cities and communities, implement "sanctuary" policies and limit cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE.
The administration is also expected to rescind other Biden administration memos that halted large-scale immigration sweeps at workplaces like factories and limited ICE arrests to serious criminals, national security threats and recent arrivals.
Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan has repeatedly said that the new administration, like previous administrations, will prioritize arresting immigrants who enter the country illegally and commit crimes. But he stressed that no one is immune from immigration enforcement if they are in the U.S. illegally and warned that unauthorized immigrants who are not committing a crime may be arrested.
Mr Trump takes swift action on first day back at White House Launch of long-awaited immigration crackdownissued a series of orders seeking to deny birthright citizenship suspending asylum and refugee admissions for unauthorized immigrants and children of temporary visa holders; and seeking assistance from the military in border enforcement through an emergency declaration.
Another executive order directs officials to expand detention facilities to detain deportees and increase agreements with local law enforcement authorities so they can arrest and detain unauthorized immigrants as acting immigration officers.
