A whistleblower report says DHS approved warrantless ICE home entry for some noncitizens. The report describes a secret memo that backs ICE home raids without judicial warrants. It says agents can use administrative warrants, not judge-signed orders, to enter homes. The memo is allegedly from acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.
Memo Directs Agents to Use Administrative Warrants
But the memo reportedly lets agents force entry without consent or an emergency. Administrative warrants carry agency signatures, and they skip a judge’s review. Whistleblower Aid says trainers tell new agents to follow the oral policy, even though written materials still warn against it.
Legal Critics Cite Fourth Amendment and Supreme Court Rulings
The American Immigration Council warns that the policy threatens Fourth Amendment protections at home. The group notes that the nation rejected unchecked home searches and links that history to today’s debate. It cites a 1971 Supreme Court ruling requiring “neutral and detached” magistrates. Critics say police discretion cannot replace judicial oversight, but the new approach shifts power back to agents.
Secrecy Allegations Fuel Backlash and Fear
The whistleblowers say ICE leaders restricted access to the memo and relied on verbal guidance. They claim officials avoided distributing physical copies and did not update the training documents. The memo reportedly offers no clear legal rationale, so advocates fear broader overreach. The council says another DHS legal memo remains secret, and it may evade public review.
Lawsuit Challenges ICE Home Raids
Lawyers for Civil Rights sued over the warrantless ICE home-entry policy on behalf of the Greater Boston Latino Network and the Brazilian Worker Center. Alexandra Oliver-Dávila says organizers will resist intimidation and protect neighbors. Lenita Reason says the policy endangers families because many immigrants shared addresses during asylum efforts. She warns that ICE can use that information to target people at home.
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Whistleblower warns ICE told to enter homes without warrants
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