The Trump administration unveiled a series of policies aimed at bolstering its deportation efforts by granting federal immigration officers increased authority and broadening the scope of undocumented immigrants subject to removal.
White House border czar revealed that ICE enforcement operations were already underway, with agents now granted more discretion in their actions. The administration rescinded former President Joe Biden's enforcement priorities, which were perceived as hindering individual arrests. A new directive permits ICE to conduct enforcement activities in sensitive locations such as schools and churches, expanding the pool of undocumented immigrants eligible for expedited deportation.
Acting Homeland Security secretary emphasized that criminals would no longer find refuge in schools and churches to evade arrest, asserting the administration's commitment to empowering law enforcement with greater autonomy.
Additionally, the administration reinstated a 2019 policy to accelerate the deportation of undocumented immigrants. The expedited removal procedure now encompasses individuals nationwide who cannot demonstrate continuous residency in the US for at least two years.
Under expedited removal, immigration authorities can deport individuals without a hearing before an immigration judge, enabling swifter deportation of undocumented immigrants.
