-
Original Date Announced
March 6, 2020ICE has reportedly requested over 500 Homeland Security Investigators (HSI) special agents to send to sanctuary cities across the U.S. to conduct surveillance and increase arrests of undocumented immigrants in Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans and Newark.
These HSI special agents normally conduct long-term investigations but are targeted at sanctuary cities, according to an internal email.
The request follows an earlier decision, made public last month, to deploy elite tactical BORTAC agents — immigration SWAT teams that are normally assigned to risky border smuggling, rescue and intelligence operations — to help arrest and deport immigrants in sanctuary cities. [ID #453]
NY Times: ‘Flood the Streets’: ICE Targets Sanctuary Cities With Increased SurveillanceSubsequent Trump-Era and Court Action(s)
-
September 28, 2017
ICE News Release: ICE arrests over 450 on federal immigration charges during 'Operation Safe City'
The expanded surveillance operations and added manpower are the latest intensification of a conflict between the Trump administration and cities that refuse to help with deportations, including Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans and Newark. Previous analysis by the Migration Policy Institute notes that ICE's Operation Safe City made arrests in jurisdictions that have limited-cooperation policies. In September 2017 Operation Safe City, ICE made 498 arrests in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Jose, Seattle, and Washington, DC.
View Document
Current Status
Not in effectOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: ReportedTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: Interior Sanctuary RestrictionsAssociated or Derivative Policies
- September 28, 2017 ICE targets enforcement in "sanctuary" jurisdictions in Operation "Safe City"
- October 6, 2017 ICE threatens to increase arrests in California and other sanctuary jurisdictions in response to California becoming a sanctuary state
- February 10, 2020 Reported: DHS considers retaliating against states that deny immigration officials access to state driver records
Commentary
2024.04.15 Commentary HSI Rebrand Distance From ICE
The Washington Posts reports that HSI is rebranding to distance itself from its parent agency, ICE. While remaining a branch of ICE, it will now have its own website and separate, non-ICE email addresses. The report says the move is in response to HSI agents' complaints that ICE’s politicized status hinders HSI’s ability to investigate crimes like drug smuggling and human trafficking. The rebranding could be reversed by a different administration, since it is a policy directive, rather than a formal reorganization as an independent agency within DHS, which would take an act of Congress.
Go to article