Trump Set to Ditch Restrictions on ICE Arrests at Churches and Schools



The incoming Trump administration is planning to rescind a long-standing policy that prohibits Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting undocumented individuals at or near sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals, without prior approval from supervisors. The policy, in place since 2011, was aimed at allowing undocumented individuals to operate freely in certain public areas without fear of immobilization, which would ultimately benefit both them and the larger community.

According to sources familiar with the plan, President-elect Donald Trump plans to rescind the policy as soon as he takes office, as part of his plan to carry out the “largest deportation operation in American history.” The move would aim to boost ICE’s authority and speed in making arrests across the country.

The policy allowing agents to make arrests in sensitive locations was first implemented by then-ICE Director John Morton in 2011 and continued through the first Trump and Biden administrations. In 2021, the Biden administration expanded the areas that require special protection.

Critics of the policy change argue that it would lead to a surge in deportations, potentially causing harm to communities and individuals. Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, stated, “Immigration enforcement has always required a balance. We don’t want people with contagious diseases too scared to go to the hospital or children going uneducated because of poorly considered deportation policies.”

Some church leaders are already concerned about the impact of a policy change, citing potential backlash from providing sanctuary space to migrants. A deacon at a church in Arizona that has served as a sanctuary space for migrants stated, “A lot of churches, faith communities are very concerned that there could be backlash.”

The change in policy would have broader implications, potentially ending the history of people seeking deportation protection by living at sensitive locations such as churches. In 2019, there were at least 46 people staying in churches across 15 states, according to Church World Service.

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