ICE Quietly Scales Back Rules for Courthouse Raids
1 min read
Summary
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the US has reversed previous courthouse arrest guidance in a move that may lead to increased conflict with state and local laws.
The agency has directed its agents to disregard any local laws that may restrict immigration arrests in or near courthouses, meaning agents are no longer required to seek legal advice to make arrests.
Critics of the change argue it marks an erosion of local autonomy over law enforcement policies and further blurs the line between criminal and civil enforcement.
Some states and cities have implemented limits on civil arrests in sensitive areas such as schools, churches and hospitals, with ICE’s move expected to impact these jurisdictions, sparking likely lawsuits.
ICE’s move comes as President Trump has insisted on an aggressive deportation policy targeting migrants, with the agency recently making a series of high-profile arrests of immigrants attending routine court hearings.
