Federal immigration authorities can now target schools and churches for arrests after President Donald Trump revoked a 2011 directive protecting “sensitive” areas. The move ends restrictions that also shielded hospitals, funerals, weddings, and public demonstrations from enforcement actions.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that the policy rollback would remove barriers to law enforcement efforts, allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants in these locations.
A Department spokesperson defended the decision, stating it empowers officers to use “common sense” in enforcing immigration laws and apprehending criminal aliens, including those accused of serious crimes such as murder and rape.
The change has sparked concerns from immigration advocates, who fear it will create fear and disrupt communities that rely on schools, houses of worship, and other protected spaces as safe havens.
