President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has repealed several memos by former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ that limited the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
One of the most significant memos rescinded by Trump’s DHS was from 2021 and expanded the list of places, called “protected areas,” where ICE agents were restricted from enforcing immigration policy. The list had been lengthened to include schools, universities, healthcare institutions, and several others.
The memo was replaced on Monday with one that states officers should use “discretion along with a healthy dose of common sense.”
“It is not necessary, however, for the head of the agency to create bright-line rules regarding where our immigration laws are permitted to be enforced,” it continued.
According to Fox News, current ICE agents believe that rescinding Mayorkas’ orders will give them more freedom to enforce immigration law and go after illegal aliens who try to hide behind schools and churches to evade capture.
NewsNation Correspondent Ali Bradley also posted that the U.S. Border Patrol has been directed to stop releasing illegal aliens on Notices to Appear in court. NTAs are orders for illegal aliens to appear before an immigration judge pending case proceedings and have reportedly been used to release foreign nationals into the country.
“No alien will be released from custody on an NTA/OR or otherwise without approval from Deputy Chief,” Bradley reported on X.
Additionally, President Trump shut down a mobile app, CBP One, utilized by the Biden administration to usher foreign nationals into the country. The move was followed closely by his execution of several key border security executive actions, fulfilling his “day one” border protection promises.
Border Czar Tom Homan confirmed that ICE teams have been sent out to begin the deportation process. “Our teams are out there as of today,” he said. “We gave them the direction to prioritize public threats that we’re looking for.”
Trump has nominated South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security, with her confirmation by the Senate expected shortly.