ICE Officers Report Directive to Halt Arrests of Non-Criminals

<p>Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers across the United States were instructed this weekend to stop arrests of individuals classified as non-criminals, according to sources within the agency who spoke to The Daily Wire on the condition of anonymity.</p><p>Sources indicated that federal immigration agents are currently permitted to arrest only illegal immigrants who have criminal convictions or pending charges. Those individuals who possess final deportation orders but do not have criminal records will not be apprehended, the sources stated.</p><p>This directive reportedly also ends the practice of "collateral arrests," meaning that officers may only detain a primary target identified as a criminal, even if others present are also in the country illegally.</p><p>The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding this change.</p><p>This significant adjustment to the previous administration's approach to immigration enforcement occurs amid declining public support for the White House's handling of immigration issues. According to a Fox News poll, President Donald Trump's approval rating on immigration has decreased to 43%, down from a peak of 48% last summer.</p><p>Several ICE officers expressed dissatisfaction with the abruptness of this change, with one officer suggesting it may be an effort to improve public perception ahead of the midterm elections. "We believe it has something to do with the midterms coming up," one source stated. "They’re trying to calm things down before the elections." Another source predicted a decrease in arrest numbers as a result of the new directive.</p><p>The announcement follows an incident in which an ICE officer shot a Venezuelan migrant in Austin the previous weekend. The officer involved, who had recently joined ICE after working with Border Patrol, was reportedly not wearing a body camera at the time of the incident, despite having been issued one.</p><p>Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis initially reported that the shooting occurred following a "small foot pursuit," as noted by NBC News.</p><p>In response to the shooting, ICE officers nationwide received a reminder that body cameras must be worn during arrests, according to sources.</p><p>Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is also facing challenges in establishing his leadership after the White House withdrew the nomination of Lance Schroyer, his candidate to lead ICE, as reported by the New York Times.</p><p>One ICE source expressed skepticism regarding whether agency leadership informed Trump prior to the decision to suspend non-criminal arrests. Similar concerns arose in July when Mullin temporarily halted ICE traffic stops following two fatal shootings involving ICE officers in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston.</p><p>Trump quickly reinstated traffic stops after publicly opposing the pause.</p><p>"I hope Trump finds out about this and puts an end to it," the source remarked.</p>