Trump says ICE can arrest people in churches and schools

Just hours after President Trump's inauguration, his administration reversed a Biden-era regulation that prevented arrests by US immigration officers near schools, houses of worship, and other "sensitive locations."

Benjamine Huffman, the Trump administration's acting homeland security secretary awaiting the confirmation of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, released a letter on Monday overturning the Biden administration's immigration arrest standards in "sensitive locations."

In a statement, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman announced the repeal of two orders, allowing agents more discretion over whether or not to enforce and eliminating a legal channel for migrants trying to enter the United States.

“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,” the statement reads.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement implemented a policy in 2011 that prohibits officers from conducting arrests in sensitive areas. The Biden administration issued similar instructions. Immigrant activists have expressed worries about repealing the policy, stating that doing so will instill fear in immigrant communities, preventing children from attending school and people from getting medical treatment.

The second directive concerns the elimination of parole programs, which permitted some migrants to temporarily reside and work in the United States. Republicans have regularly accused the Biden administration of abusing the parole program by expanding it to include several nationalities. The statement does not specify which programs will be phased out, but it does mention that the software will be reinstated on a "case-by-case basis."

“The Biden-Harris Administration abused the humanitarian parole program to indiscriminately allow 1.5 million migrants to enter our country. This was all stopped on day one of the Trump Administration. This action will return the humanitarian parole program to its original purpose of looking at migrants on a case-by-case basis,” the statement says.

However, the Trump administration said Monday's decision was intended to target undocumented immigrants with significant criminal backgrounds.

"This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens — including murders and rapists — who have illegally come into our country," DHS said in its statement. "Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest."

Monday's decision is part of a bigger attempt by the Trump administration to remove restrictions imposed by previous administrations on ICE operations, laying the framework for what the president has promised will be the greatest deportation operation in American history. The administration is anticipated to increase immigration arrests in towns and localities with "sanctuary" rules that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE.

On his first day back in the White House, Trump issued a flurry of orders aimed at denying birthright citizenship to the children of unauthorized immigrants and temporary visa holders, suspending asylum and refugee admissions, and enlisting the military's aid in border enforcement via an emergency declaration.

Another executive order urged officials to expand detention facilities for deportees and to strengthen relationships with local law enforcement agencies so that they can arrest and imprison undocumented immigrants as deputized immigration agents.