Trump Approves Immigration Raids in Protected Places

Immigration Raids: Protected Places No Longer Exempt.
DHS Revokes Biden’s Directive on Raids.
Trump Seeks Largest Deportation Campaign.

The government of President Donald Trump has taken a controversial step in its immigration policy.

This Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed the protections that shielded certain places, such as schools, churches, and hospitals, from immigration raids.

This measure revokes a directive from the Biden administration, established in 2021, which aimed to ensure that migrants could access essential services without fear of arrest.

The announcement comes a day after Trump took office, reaffirming his campaign commitment: to implement the largest deportation campaign in the history of the United States.

Trump Approves Immigration Raids in Protected Places

#BREAKING The Trump administration opens the door to migrant raids in churches, schools, and shelters. pic.twitter.com/hxBXBkdFWR

— Ruido en la Red (@RuidoEnLaRed) January 21, 2025

According to the DHS, the removal of these restrictions «empowers» immigration agents to «enforce the laws» and act against so-called «foreign criminals».

In 2021, President Joe Biden issued an order that limited raids in places considered sensitive. These sites included:

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Schools and universities. Hospitals, clinics, and health centers. Churches, temples, and places of worship. Shelters for victims of domestic violence. Funerals, weddings, and other religious ceremonies. Public demonstrations and disaster relief centers.

The goal of this policy was to foster trust among migrant communities in these spaces, ensuring they could access essential services without fear of deportation.

Criticism and Concerns

FREE REIN TO IMMIGRATION RAIDS IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND CHURCHES IN THE USA

The Government of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, gave free rein this Tuesday to immigration raids in places previously considered «protected» such as schools, churches, and hospitals, of… pic.twitter.com/TUCCO6si4T

— Alerta Noticias (@alertanoti) January 21, 2025

The DHS, in justifying its decision, claimed that some criminals hide in these places to evade justice, according to Efe.

However, the statement did not present evidence or specific cases to support these claims.

The elimination of the «protected sites» policy has caused fear among the migrant community, who now fear going to hospitals or sending their children to school.

Human rights organizations and community leaders have expressed their concern. They point out that this measure could negatively impact the health, education, and well-being of thousands of families.

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«This only increases fear in our community, distancing us from the basic resources we need to survive,» stated a spokesperson for a migrant support organization.

During his first term, Trump pushed several measures against migration, including the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico and zero-tolerance policies that separated migrant families.

With this new change, he seeks to strengthen his firm stance on immigration, promising to carry out mass deportations across the country.

Although DHS assures that the actions are targeted at «criminals», critics argue that these policies often affect mainly people who do not pose a threat to public safety.