Trump authorizes ICE arrests in schools, churches

President Trump's administration has authorized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to carry out arrests in schools and churches, rescinding a guideline that prevented arrests in so-called “sensitive” areas.

The directive was issued by acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Benjamine Huffman on Monday, but announced in a statement on Tuesday.

“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,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. 

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the spokesperson added. “The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.” 

The policy that prevented ICE agents from arresting illegal immigrants in a variety of locations was enacted in 2011. Under the guideline, arrests of individuals at places such as funerals, weddings, hospitals and schools were prohibited. The Biden administration largely adhered to the policy.

The second rescinded directive curtailed multiple parole programs, which allow migrants from certain countries to live and work in the U.S., usually when their home country is facing humanitarian crises. The press release did not specify which paroled groups would be impacted, adding it would be returned to a “case-by-case basis.”

“The Biden-Harris Administration abused the humanitarian parole program to indiscriminately allow 1.5 million migrants to enter our country,” the DHS spokesperson said.

“This was all stopped on day one of the Trump Administration,” the spokesperson added. “This action will return the humanitarian parole program to its original purpose of looking at migrants on a case-by-case basis.”