The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced two new memos late Monday to undo a major directive that limited federal immigration enforcement and to begin a thorough review of humanitarian parole practices.
Key Facts:
– DHS rescinded a 2021 memo by former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that designated broad “protected areas” where ICE could not conduct enforcement.
– The new guidance stresses common sense, removing many strict limitations on where ICE agents can act.
– A separate memo focuses on reining in the use of humanitarian parole, which was expanded under the prior administration.
– These policy shifts come just hours after President Trump signed multiple executive orders targeting illegal immigration.
The Rest of The Story:
Under the rescinded Mayorkas memo, immigration agents were told to avoid schools, houses of worship, emergency centers, and a wide range of community spaces.
At the time, officials said these protections were necessary to prevent disruptions in places where people receive essential services.
However, the new DHS memo says that law enforcement officers can rely on “common sense” instead of hard-and-fast rules, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement more freedom to act.
Some ICE agents believe the policy change means they can pursue individuals who, until now, found refuge near sensitive locations.
Critics of the old approach argue that it allowed many illegal immigrants to exploit these “no-go zones” without fear of arrest.
Supporters of the original memo say it kept families from being split up in hospitals or schools and preserved trust in local communities.
The second memo takes aim at the broad use of parole, which Republicans have criticized as an overreach.
It notes that the statute requires a case-by-case evaluation, suggesting that the previous administration’s parole programs for certain migrant groups crossed a legal line.
DHS leaders will be reviewing existing procedures and preparing plans to eliminate or modify any programs that do not meet legal standards.
Trump DHS repeals key Mayorkas memo limiting ICE agents, orders parole review https://t.co/FFeo9CFRWP
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) January 21, 2025
These memos arrived on the same day Trump declared a national emergency related to border security.
The White House also announced it would redeploy the military to the southern border, resume building the border wall, and end birthright citizenship for children born to those in the country illegally.
The Bottom Line:
With these memos, the new administration is making its stance on immigration clear.
By rolling back Mayorkas’ memo and taking a harder look at parole, Trump’s DHS is poised to enforce federal immigration laws more aggressively.
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Many supporters applaud this direction, while critics worry about potential ramifications for families and local communities.
Either way, the pace of immigration policy changes is likely to remain rapid in the days ahead.