ICE Will No Longer Deport Illegal Immigrants Who Commit Less Serious Crimes, Psaki Says

By Joshua Summers First Posted: Feb 10, 2021 02:32 AM EST

President Joe Biden's Press Secretary: Illegal Immigrants Sentenced for Crimes to not be Prioritized for Deportation

(Photo : Chip Somodevilla)
Hoisting paper dolls representing children in detention, protesters rally in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters, demanding the release of immigrants in ICE detention due to the dangers posed by the coronavirus pandemic July 17, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Illegal immigrants who have entered the United States had one goal: to be successful and put food on their tables. However, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said some illegal immigrants commit mistakes and get detained for even a less serious offense, resulting in their deportation. That would change under the Biden administration, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

New ICE Guidelines on Illegal Immigrants

In a report by The Post Millennial, Psaki shared in a press conference about the new ICE guidelines that will no longer focus on deporting illegal immigrants imprisoned to simple assaults, DUIs, solicitation, and drug-based crimes.

Psaki noted that the priority for the enforcement of immigration laws would be on those posing a national security threat, or a public safety threat, and on recent arrivals.

"We're talking about the prioritization of who is going to be deported from the country," she said.

Texas Tribune reported about the issuance of the new ICE guidelines to agents this week. While the ICE's plans are not yet final, interim instructions sent to senior officials point to a significant shift as agents will no longer seek to deport illegal immigrants for crimes such as assaults and DUIs.

Instead, they would focus on national security threats, recent border crossers, and those who complete jail terms due to grave felony convictions.

According to USA.gov, those who come to the United States without travel documents or forged documents may be deported quickly without having an immigration court hearing under an order of expedited removal. It also adds that criminal aliens who committed nonviolent crimes may be subject to rapid REPAT or Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer.

However, not all officials from the ICE is in favor of the guideline adjustment. Frustrated ICE officials said the proposed changes would take away the agents' discretion and severely limit their ability to arrest and deport criminals.

Texas Tribune shared an anonymous statement from an official saying that the course of action is extreme to the point that they have gone from enforcing their immigration laws, and now they are told to enforce nothing.

Texas Tribune noted that President Joe Biden earlier expressed remorse in the exceptionally high number of deportations during the Obama regime and pledged to reform the ICE but not eliminate it.

Officials Chafing at the New ICE Rules

When the new guideline's focus has somehow narrowed, questions of public safety emerged. However, Psaki said that nobody is stating that DUI's or assault is acceptable behavior. She noted that those arrested for such activities should still be tried and sentenced appropriately by law enforcement.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier ordered a 100-day pause on deportations, which a federal judge soon halted. It resulted in the DHS setting temporary enforcement priorities while the agency underwent a review.

Meanwhile, Psaki noted that the Biden administration aims to put forward a bill that will redesign and modernize immigration, which, according to her, is long overdue.

"That (bill) addresses not only a path to citizenship but puts in place smart security measures and addresses the root causes of these issues in the countries of Central America," Psaki said.

She added that among the DHS' top priorities now is to be on the lookout for individuals who "pose the greatest national security threat." But critics said the new ICE guidelines pushed by the Biden administration would still allow thousands of illegal immigrants with criminal histories to remain in the country and possibly commit offenses again.