ICE Officers Authorized to Forcibly Enter Homes Sans Warrant: 2025 Memo

The recent memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has raised significant concerns regarding home entry protocols. The document, dated May 12, 2025, reveals that ICE officers are now authorized to forcibly enter homes without a traditional judicial warrant, specifically targeting individuals subjected to deportation. This contentious policy shift was disclosed by whistleblowers to Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

Key Details of the ICE Memo

The memo, attributed to Acting Director Todd Lyons, states that ICE agents may use an administrative warrant to enter residences of individuals with a final order of removal. This marks a departure from previous practices, as administrative warrants differ from judicial warrants that require prior judicial approval.

Changes in Enforcement Procedures

• ICE officers may enter homes based on an administrative warrant if a final order of removal exists.
• Previously, such entry methods were not standard procedure.
• The policy has come under fire for its potential constitutional implications.

Notably, the memo emphasizes that agents should “knock and announce” their presence, clearly stating their identity and intention. This procedure is outlined under a protocol known as Form I-205, which specifically directs how agents should conduct themselves during enforcement actions.

Response from Authorities

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, defended the use of administrative warrants. She noted that individuals who receive these warrants have undergone due process, having been issued a final removal order by an immigration judge. McLaughlin maintained that administrative warrants in immigration enforcement have been recognized by both the Supreme Court and Congress for decades.

Concerns Raised by Whistleblowers

The organization Whistleblower Aid, representing the informants who revealed the memo, expressed alarm over the potential violation of constitutional rights. They argue that ICE’s reliance on administrative warrants could undermine the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Senator Blumenthal echoed these concerns, labeling the policy as “legally and morally abhorrent.” He criticized the memo’s limited distribution, indicating that it may have been communicated covertly, with some agents receiving only verbal briefings. He emphasized the importance of judicial oversight in home entry cases.

Historical Context and Impact

This memo surfaces amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, with an estimated 220,000 arrests by ICE from January to October 2025. Data indicates that approximately 75,000 of these arrests involved individuals without prior criminal records.

The unfolding situation continues to spark significant debate over immigration policy and enforcement practices, particularly concerning civil liberties. As the implications of the May 2025 memo become clearer, it is likely to remain a focal point of controversy in American immigration discourse.