The change indicates the extent to which the Biden administration has been able to move forward with its plans to reshape U.S. immigration enforcement despite a U.S. District Court preliminary injunction halting its deportation freeze. ICE officers averaged nearly 6,800 arrests in October, November and December, the last three full months of the Trump administration. ADA subsequent memo issued by ICE acting director Tae Johnson on Feb. 18 returned some discretion to ICE officers, but the current guidelines are more restrictive than rules implemented under former president Barack Obama. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is due to issue a finalized memo setting ICE priorities at the end of April. The Biden administration had not appealed his order, and hasn’t said if they will attempt to extend the 100-day deportation freeze when it expires on April 30.

Source: Washington Post March 09, 2021 21:37 UTC