Federal immigration officers have been granted extensive authority to enter people’s residences without a warrant from a judge, as per an internal memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) obtained by The Associated Press. This directive comes as the Trump administration is intensifying immigration enforcement efforts in Maine, as part of a broader initiative to increase immigration-related arrests across the country. There is a shift in enforcement strategies in cities like Minneapolis due to a mass deportation campaign deploying thousands of officers.
In the past, various groups including immigrant advocates, legal aid organizations, and local governments have advised individuals not to allow entry to immigration agents unless presented with a judge-signed warrant. This guidance is based on Supreme Court decisions that typically bar law enforcement from entering a residence without judicial authorization. However, the ICE memo challenges this advice at a time when arrests are on the rise under the administration’s immigration crackdown.
The memo, dated May 12, 2025, signed by ICE’s acting director, Todd Lyons, asserts the legality of relying on administrative warrants alone to arrest individuals subject to final removal orders in their homes. This marks a departure from past practices where administrative warrants were not the primary means of making such arrests. The memo does not elaborate on the basis for this new approach or its legal implications.
The memo’s contents have been used for training new ICE officers, although it has not been widely circulated within the agency. New hires and trainees are instructed to follow the memo’s guidance, even though it contradicts existing written training materials, as per a whistleblower complaint. The extent to which this directive has been implemented in immigration enforcement actions remains unclear.
In response to inquiries about the memo, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that individuals targeted with administrative warrants have already undergone due process and received final removal orders. She stated that officers issuing these warrants have established probable cause for arrest, citing recognition of administrative warrants by the Supreme Court and Congress.
The Trump administration has shifted its mass deportation efforts to focus on Maine, a state with a relatively small population of undocumented residents but a significant presence of African refugees in major urban centers. The operation, dubbed “Catch of the Day” by the Department of Homeland Security, has seen over 100 agents deployed to the state. Reports of increased immigration arrests have sparked fear in immigrant communities, with local officials expressing dissent over immigration enforcement tactics.
Citizens in affected areas have mobilized to support immigrant communities, with efforts to alert residents about ICE presence and provide assistance. Local authorities, including the mayor of Portland, have raised concerns about the impact of immigration enforcement actions on families and communities. The official response from ICE regarding its plans in Maine has not been provided.
In a separate development, a court in Minnesota has temporarily lifted restrictions on immigration officers’ tactics, allowing for more aggressive enforcement measures during Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities. Legal battles continue over the use of force by law enforcement in response to protests against immigration actions, with ongoing clashes between federal authorities and local officials in Minnesota.