DHS Announced Shift to Target Criminal Illegal Immigrants After ICE Raid Backlash
The Department of Homeland Security is shifting its immigration enforcement strategy amid rising public criticism of high-profile ICE raids, according to multiple reports.
Sources tell NewsNation that Homeland Security, under directives from senior Border Patrol leadership, will move away from broad sweeps of undocumented people and prioritize arrests of those with serious criminal convictions.
The tactical change follows negative polling on Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, which has put pressure on federal authorities and intensified scrutiny from lawmakers and communities nationwide.
Fox News confirms that U.S. Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino is overseeing the new emphasis on targeting individuals convicted of violent crimes, drug offenses, human smuggling and other serious charges, rather than mass enforcement actions at public locations like big-box stores or construction sites.
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The shift means agents are expected to reduce spontaneous street arrests and broad location-based raids, instead relying on data and criminal histories to guide apprehensions. How the change will affect ongoing operations and long-term enforcement patterns remains unclear.
“It makes sense to focus our resources where they’re most needed, on individuals who pose a clear threat to public safety,” a DHS spokesperson said on background.
This matters because past enforcement actions have drawn sharp criticism for sweeping up individuals without criminal records and sparking protests nationwide.
Advocates are watching closely to see whether the new approach reduces backlash and how it will be implemented in major cities where raids have been most contentious.
What happens next could include updated internal guidance from DHS and reactions from lawmakers demanding more transparency on enforcement priorities.
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