ICE agents can now forcibly enter homes without judge’s warrant, memo says
ICE agents authorized to enter homes without warrants
- Federal immigration officers are now claiming extensive authority to forcibly enter private residences without a judge’s warrant, marking a significant departure from long-established guidance.
- The new directive, issued by ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, permits agents to use force to gain entry to homes to arrest individuals with a final order of removal.
- This policy directly conflicts with Fourth Amendment protections and overturns years of advice given to immigrant communities, which previously stated a judge-signed warrant was required for forced entry.
- The change, revealed through an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press via a whistleblower, is reportedly being used to train new ICE officers, contradicting existing training materials.
- Advocates and legal groups anticipate legal challenges and strong criticism, as the policy undermines the constitutional rights of individuals in their homes.