ICE Allows Officers to Forcibly Enter Homes Without Warrant: 2025 Memo Reveals
A recently uncovered memo from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, dated May 12, 2025, reveals significant changes in enforcement policies. Acting Director Todd Lyons issued the memo, which informs officers they can forcibly enter homes to arrest individuals facing deportation without a judge’s signed warrant.
Key Policy Changes in ICE Procedures
The memo allows ICE agents to use administrative warrants for home entries when there is a “final order of removal” from an immigration judge, the Board of Immigration Appeals, or a U.S. District or Magistrate Judge. This procedural shift is a departure from previous practices, which relied on judicial warrants.
- ICE agents may forcibly enter homes under new guidelines.
- The enforcement relies on administrative warrants rather than traditional judicial warrants.
Constitutionality of the New Policy
According to the document, recent determinations by the DHS Office of General Counsel suggest that using administrative warrants for home entries does not violate the U.S. Constitution or immigration laws. This has raised concerns among legal experts and advocacy groups.
Implementation Guidelines
The memo specifies that ICE officers must follow the “knock and announce” procedure when entering a home. Officers must disclose their identity and purpose before entering. This directive applies to the Form I-205, a type of removal or deportation warrant.
Response from DHS Officials
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, defended the new policy. She stated that individuals receiving administrative warrants have already undergone due process. According to McLaughlin, these warrants have been upheld by the Supreme Court and Congress for immigration enforcement.
Concerns from Whistleblowers
The group Whistleblower Aid, which represents those who leaked the memo, has publicly criticized the new policy. They argue it contradicts long-standing federal training and policies that respect constitutional rights. The group emphasized that this approach could endanger constitutional protections and the integrity of law enforcement.
Political Reaction
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut has voiced strong opposition to the memo. He described it as a “morally abhorrent policy” that undermines constitutional rights and called for greater transparency regarding its implementation.
Statistical Context
Data from the University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project shows that under the Trump administration, approximately 220,000 individuals were arrested by ICE between January 20 and October 15, 2025. Notably, around 75,000 of those arrests involved individuals without prior criminal convictions.
The new ICE policy, characterized by its controversial nature, is likely to continue to raise significant legal and ethical concerns in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement in the United States.
