ICE Can Now Make Arrests at Schools, Churches, and Hospitals

For decades, US immigration agencies operated under a policy that discouraged or prohibited enforcement actions at "sensitive locations" — including schools, houses of worship, hospitals, medical clinics, and domestic violence shelters. On January 20, 2025, acting DHS Secretary Benjamin Huffman issued a memo formally rescinding that policy. There is no longer a categorical rule preventing ICE or CBP officers from making arrests at or near these places.

The original policy existed because agencies recognized that enforcement in sensitive locations deterred immigrants — including crime victims and witnesses — from accessing essential services. Rescinding it means officers now exercise their own judgment about whether to conduct arrests in or near these locations.

Being in a school, house of worship, or hospital no longer provides the same level of protection it once did. However, you still have rights in any encounter with immigration authorities. You have the right to remain silent. You are not required to show identification proving your immigration status. If you are detained, you have the right to speak with an attorney. Contact a local legal aid organization if you or someone you know is detained.