A new memo issued on November 3 by DHS (Department of Homeland Security) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says that immigration authorities will limit arrests at schools, hospitals and other “protected” areas.
The new policy limits immigration arrests at protected such as “a place where children gather” and “a place where disaster or emergency response and relief is being provided,” and include:
• schools and university campuses
• medical facilities
• daycare facilities
• playgrounds
• recreation centers
• parades, demonstrations and rallies
• places of worship
• Covid-19 testing and vaccination sites
• shelters for victims of domestic violence and homeless people
• drug and alcohol treatment facilities
• food pantries
• natural disaster emergency centers
The new guidelines are effective immediately are instruct immigration agents to refrain from making arrests, conducting searches, serving subpoenas or carrying out other enforcement actions in “protected areas.” DHS guidelines issued earlier this year directed immigration enforcement agents to focus on recent border crossers, national security threats and people who have committed serious crimes. DHS also imposed limits on arrests at courthouses when people showed up for other matters.
“We can accomplish our law enforcement mission without denying individuals access to needed medical care, children access to their schools, the displaced access to food and shelter, people of faith access to their places of worship, and more.”
– Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
The memo stipulated the policy applies to field agents for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection), and that any exceptions must be approved by agency headquarters.
You need to know your rights! Contact Godoy Law Office if you or a loved one are detained. If you or a loved one are picked up in an ICE raid, you and your family need to move quickly so you can have an attorney advocate next to you. Call the immigration lawyers at Godoy Law Office to protect your rights at 630-912-0322.
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