ICE announces a halt to most arrests during coronavirus outbreak
-
ICE
Citing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency announced Wednesday its agents would temporarily suspend most arrests, focusing only on individuals said to pose public safety risks or subject to mandatory detention on criminal grounds.
“For those individuals who do not fall into those categories, [ICE] will exercise discretion to delay enforcement actions until after the crisis or utilize alternatives to detention, as appropriate,” the agency said in a statement.
The policy shift comes after several immigrant advocacy groups challenged ICE over its continued practice of carrying out arrests amid efforts to socially distance during the health crisis. The groups argued that immigrants who may be affected by COVID-19 may forgo medical treatment in fear of being deported.
In Wednesday’s statement, the agency said it would immediately cease any arrests at medical facilities.
“During the COVID-19 crisis, ICE will not carry out enforcement operations at or near health care facilities, such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, accredited health clinics, and emergent or urgent care facilities, except in the most extraordinary of circumstances,” the agency said. “Individuals should not avoid seeking medical care because they fear civil immigration enforcement.”
The statement did not address the more than 37,000 immigrant detainees being held by the agency. Advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers have called for ICE to release the elderly and those with chronic health problems.
The agency said it will continue its investigations into child exploitation, gangs, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking and human smuggling.
Related stories
- President Trump says he's temporarily halting immigration during coronavirus pandemic
- DACA recipients can still renew despite closure of citizenship offices nationwide
- Judges call for all immigration courts to close in wake of coronavirus
- Yuma-area border-wall contractors find caved-in smuggling tunnel
- Calls for Trump administration to release migrants from detention increase amid COVID-19 pandemic
- How federal agencies put immigrants and immigration workers at risk amid coronavirus outbreak
- To slow CV-19, Trump administration closes southern border to nonessential travel
- Federal trials postponed in Az; Streamline hearings continue in Yuma
- U.S.-Mexico border closed to most travel as crisis grows
- Ducey orders Nat'l Guard to stock Az stores, closes bars & dine-in restaurants
- Coronavirus halts some immigration courts, but not in Arizona
- Justice Court halting evictions & misdemeanor trials for CV-19 outbreak, but one judge won't go along
