WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump clarified that new directives for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents do not mean an end to arrests of people who are in the United States illegally.
The clarification came after a directive for agents to focus
their efforts on immigrants with criminal records was leaked, leading to
speculation about a possible reduction in arrests of people without criminal
records.
Trump maintained that anyone who remains illegally in the
United States continues to be subject to ICE action, including arrest and
eventual deportation proceedings.
On Saturday night, new instructions were sent to ICE field
offices to clarify the scope of the policy and avoid any interpretation that
agents should stop making certain arrests.
According to information released by journalist Bill
Melugin, agents will continue conducting operations against undocumented
immigrants, including those without criminal records, although individuals with
criminal histories remain among the top priorities for immigration authorities.
The Trump administration has insisted that the guidelines
aim to establish operational priorities but do not eliminate ICE's authority to
enforce federal immigration laws.