The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly amending its immigration enforcement operation protocol by moving away from raids targeting all illegal aliens in the U.S. and instead focusing more on the ones who have committed serious offenses.
The move appears to be in response to negative reporting on the ICE raids.
The change means federal agents will put a smaller emphasis on carrying out large raids that have happened at Home Depot stores and other locations, according to the outlet, Fox News reports.
Agents will still conduct traffic stop enforcement, but Border Patrol is unlikely to continue grabbing people off the streets, the outlet reported.
The reported change in immigration enforcement comes as support for President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies has tanked in the polls.
Ira Mehlman is media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
“They're not really backing down here. They have been going after the worst of the worst. And in situations where you have local authorities, these sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate, they go out into the community and find the people that they're looking for, often who have been released by these sanctuary jurisdictions. They have said that if we come across people who are not on a radar scope but are in the country illegally, we are going to carry out the law."
But clearer communication from ICE could help citizens better understand its mission. In short, ICE needs better public relations, Mehlman says.
“If you are not out there explaining your position adequately to the American public, then public opinion could turn against you. So, what they have announced now is precisely what they have been doing since day one of this administration, going out there focusing on the bad guys. But also making it clear that just because you haven't committed some other really serious crime in this country doesn't mean that we're not going to hold you accountable for violating our immigration laws."
