President Donald Trump has authorized raids on schools, churches, and hospitals to facilitate the arrest of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
This development, following nearly 100 presidential directives, has sparked concerns in Nigeria and other nations.
Trump’s decision grants U.S. immigration authorities the power to apprehend individuals in locations that were previously considered off-limits under policies that had designated these as “sensitive areas.”
The policy shift, ending over a decade of restrictions, was announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday.
The department, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), stated that the change aims to eliminate spaces where individuals could avoid arrest.
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“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense”, according to the Guardian.
The new directive, issued by Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman, also reinstates the use of expedited removal nationwide.
Under the policy, ICE has been granted the authority to swiftly deport undocumented individuals who cannot demonstrate continuous residence in the United States for more than two years.
These changes are part of a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration.
This week, the president signed several executive orders, including measures to suspend the refugee program, restrict access to an app used for facilitating U.S. entry, and enhance collaboration between ICE and local governments.
As part of this initiative, ICE agents are preparing to carry out nationwide operations to arrest and deport undocumented individuals.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, confirmed in an interview that these efforts would begin immediately, with ICE officers across the country actively enforcing immigration laws.
Advocacy groups have strongly opposed the new policies.
The Center for Law and Social Policy has warned of significant negative impacts on immigrant families, especially those with U.S.-citizen children.
The organization expressed concern that these changes could discourage families from seeking medical care, disaster relief, and education, while increasing the likelihood of children experiencing traumatic encounters with immigration officials.
Religious leaders have also criticized the policy.
During a sermon at an inaugural prayer service, the Episcopal bishop of Washington called on the administration to act with compassion toward immigrants and other vulnerable populations.
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