
*The Trump administration has rescinded long-standing policies restricting immigration enforcement in sensitive areas such as schools, churches, and hospitals.
Newsweek reports that this change grants federal immigration authorities greater freedom to detain individuals in locations previously protected under guidelines established in 2011 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and in 2013 by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman outlined the new policy, which aligns with President Trump’s commitment to stricter immigration enforcement and his campaign pledge to pursue mass deportations. Trump argues that the revised approach will prevent criminals from exploiting these protected spaces while enabling immigration agents to carry out their responsibilities more effectively.
Meanwhile, many schools and churches remain committed to shielding immigrant communities. For example, California’s Fresno Unified School District prohibits immigration enforcement on campus without a court order, while Chicago Public Schools passed a resolution barring ICE agents from entering without a criminal warrant. Churches have historically served as sanctuaries for migrants evading detention and continue to uphold that tradition.
“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens — including murderers and rapists — who have illegally come into our country,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Tuesday. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”

Olivia Golden, interim executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy, said in a statement to The Associated Press: “This action could have devastating consequences for immigrant families and their children, including U.S. citizen children, deterring them from receiving medical attention, seeking out disaster relief, attending school, and carrying out everyday activities.”
“Should ICE presence near such locations become more common, the likelihood also increases that children could witness a parent’s detention, arrest, or other encounters with ICE agents.”
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