ICE Expands Authority: Agents Can Now Enter Homes Without Judicial Warrants
In a dramatic policy shift, federal immigration officers are now empowered to enter private residences without a judge’s warrant. This change, outlined in an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) memo obtained by The Associated Press, represents a significant departure from previous guidelines that respected constitutional limits on government searches. The memo gives ICE officers the authority to use force to enter a home based solely on an administrative warrant, provided there is a final order of removal for the individual in question. This move has sparked significant concern regarding the potential erosion of Fourth Amendment protections, which guard against unreasonable searches and seizures. The escalation of ICE’s operational authority was notably highlighted during a recent crackdown operation in Maine. The ability to forcibly enter homes without a judicial warrant could potentially lead to increased tensions between law enforcement and communities. Former Act...