Trump Administration Ends Protections Against Immigration Raids in “Sensitive Areas”
The Trump administration has revoked long-standing policies that restricted immigration enforcement actions at schools, hospitals, churches, and other locations considered “sensitive areas,” Al Jazeera reports.
The move, announced Tuesday, is part of President Trump’s effort to deliver on his campaign promise of increased deportations of undocumented immigrants.
For over a decade, federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), had issued guidance prohibiting raids in these locations. The policy, implemented in 2011 by ICE and 2013 by CBP, aimed to avoid discouraging people from seeking essential services such as healthcare and education.
However, the Trump administration now claims the previous guidance “thwarted law enforcement” and seeks to empower immigration agencies by removing these restrictions.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense,” a statement released by the administration read.
This decision comes as President Trump has consistently linked irregular migration with criminality, often citing cases like the alleged murder of Laken Riley to illustrate his point. During his campaign, he also used dehumanizing language when referring to migrants and asylum seekers.
The administration’s stance clashes with numerous studies that demonstrate undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born US citizens.
Human rights organizations are strongly condemning the policy change, expressing concern that it will force undocumented people and their families, including US citizen children, into precarious situations.
“This action could have devastating consequences for immigrant families and their children, including US citizen children, deterring them from receiving medical attention, seeking out disaster relief, attending school, and carrying out everyday activities,” said the Center for Law and Social Policy.
