U.S. IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS have reversed enforcement limits at hotels, farms, restaurants and food processing plants days after issuing them, following conflicting statements by President Donald Trump, according to Reuters. ICE leadership told field office heads on Monday it would withdraw last week's directive that paused raids on those businesses.
ICE officials were told a daily quota of 3,000 arrests—10 times the average last year under former President Joe Biden—would remain in effect, two former officials said in the report. ICE field office heads raised concerns they could not meet the quota without raids at the previously exempted businesses, Reuters reported, citing a source.
However, it was not clear why the directive was reversed.
Some ICE officials left the call uncertain, and it appeared they would still need to proceed cautiously with raids at the previously exempted businesses, the former officials said.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said ICE would continue making arrests at worksites but did not respond to questions about the new guidance. "There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts," she said in a statement Tuesday.
The Washington Post first reported the reversal.
Trump took office in January aiming to deport large numbers of immigrants in the U.S. illegally. ICE doubled the pace of arrests under Trump compared with last year but remains below the level needed to deport millions.
Top White House aide Stephen Miller ordered ICE in late May to increase arrests to 3,000 per day, leading to raids that targeted some businesses.
Trump said in a Truth Social post on Thursday that farms and hotel businesses had been affected by the increased enforcement but also claimed, without evidence, that criminals were trying to fill those jobs. ICE issued guidance that day pausing most immigration enforcement at agricultural, hospitality and food processing businesses.
