What to know about ICE enforcement and Florida resources
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Immigrants across South Florida are bracing in anticipation of a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids ordered by the Trump administration.
The big picture: President Trump has already acted on his promise to crack down on undocumented immigrants through large-scale deportation.
- Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border hours after being sworn in as president.
- The administration also announced it's ending the policy of avoiding arrests in churches, schools, hospitals, funerals, weddings and public demonstrations.
Below are some important details to keep in mind for those concerned about encountering federal immigration agents.
What "expedited removal" means:
The Department of Homeland Security has expanded its use of this process, which can hasten deportation for undocumented people who've been in the country for less than two years, according to the National Immigration Law Center.
- Migrants facing expedited removal can lose their opportunity to appear before an immigration judge or fight their case.
Zoom in: People arrested by ICE have a better chance to fight their case in immigration court if they can prove how long they've been in the U.S., Nicole Hallett, director of the Immigrants' Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago, told Axios.
When ICE can enter a home:
ICE or a federal officer can enter a home with an arrest warrant or search warrant signed by a judge, Andres Guerra, an attorney with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, tells Axios.
- Agents can enter your home without a warrant if you give them consent or if they hear an emergency happening inside, Guerra says.
In a public place, individuals have no obligation to provide any information to immigration officials, he says.
Yes, but: Agents can use a warrant signed by a judge to arrest somebody in a public place. They can also use an order of removal or deportation signed by a judge.
How to find resources:
A new initiative created by a coalition of immigrant justice groups called the Florida Rapid Response Alliance for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (RAISE) has a free hotline to request information, seek legal referrals or report abusive enforcement actions.
- Call or text 888-600-5762 for information.
- The ACLU of Florida has also published a list of resources here.
Keep reading: What to look for in ICE warrants