Immigration LATEST Updates

Update on DHS Sensitive Locations Policy (Jan 21, 2025)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has withdrawn its long-standing policy that limited immigration enforcement actions at sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals, places of worship, and social service agencies. This change, announced by the Acting Director on January 21, 2025, allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct enforcement operations in these locations.

The updated directives are intended to give law enforcement broader authority to target individuals, particularly those with criminal records, regardless of their presence in historically protected spaces.

For more details, visit [official DHS website or https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/01/21/statement-dhs-spokesperson-directives-expanding-law-enforcement-and-ending-abuse].

The Laken Riley Law (Jan 29, 2025)

The Laken Riley Act, enacted under President Trump’s administration, significantly expands federal detention policies. It mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or admit to certain offenses—including theft, burglary, shoplifting, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Importantly, a conviction is not required for detention, raising serious due process concerns.

This law heightens the risk of detention and deportation for many individuals, including those with pending cases. Even bystanders could be affected simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

For more details, visit [official DHS website or https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/01/29/president-trump-signs-laken-riley-act-law].

Key Immigration Policy Changes and Their Impact

1. Shut Down of CBP One App
The CBP One app, initially designed to streamline asylum processing, has been shut down, limiting access to legal entry points for asylum seekers. This move forces many into uncertain and dangerous conditions while awaiting processing.

2. Suspension of Refugee Program & Attacks on Asylum
Recent policy changes have drastically reduced refugee admissions and restricted asylum claims. These measures increase barriers for individuals fleeing persecution and seeking protection in the U.S.

3. Expanded Mandatory Detention & ICE Arrest Quotas
The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of undocumented individuals charged with specific offenses—without requiring a conviction. Additionally, new quotas for ICE officers increase pressure for widespread arrests and deportations, heightening risks for many immigrants.

4. Birthright Citizenship Under Threat
Efforts to challenge birthright citizenship raise concerns about constitutional rights and the status of children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. Changes to this policy could create legal uncertainty for many families.

5. Declaration of National Emergency
This administration has declared a national emergency at the Southern Border, allowing for the use of national resources such as the National Guard and directing the completion of the border wall.

6. Targeting of Sanctuary Jurisdictions
The federal government is intensifying efforts to penalize sanctuary cities and states that protect immigrants from aggressive enforcement actions. This could lead to funding cuts and increased federal intervention.

7. Sensitive Locations No Longer Protected
Immigration enforcement actions at schools, hospitals, places of worship, and social service agencies are no longer restricted, putting many at risk in spaces that were previously considered safe.