Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

US throws out policies limiting arrests of migrants at sensitive locations like schools, churches

Officers enforcing immigration laws will now be able to arrest migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches after the Trump administration threw out policies limiting where those arrests could happen

Rebecca Santana
Tuesday 21 January 2025 22:50 GMT
Trump Immigration
Trump Immigration (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Officers enforcing immigration laws will now be able to arrest migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches after the Trump administration threw out policies limiting where those arrests could happen.

The move reverses guidance that for over a decade has restricted two key federal immigration agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection — from carrying out immigration enforcement in sensitive locations.

“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens — including murders and rapists — who have illegally come into our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Tuesday.

The ICE guidance dates back to 2011. Customs and Border Protection issued similar guidance in 2013.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in