The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on September 28 denied claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had halted arrests of non‑criminal illegal migrants across the country. DHS said the report was false, adding that "no one is off the table" and that ICE would keep detaining anyone unlawfully present.
The claim came after The Daily Wire on September 26 reported that ICE officers were told to stop arresting undocumented migrants without criminal convictions, focusing instead on those with pending charges.
Bill Melugin, a Fox News congressional correspondent, said he had spoken to nine ICE and DHS insiders who described "verbal guidance" aimed at avoiding arrests of non‑criminal migrants, but later clarified the guidance was a miscommunication about prioritizing serious offenders.
DHS data released earlier in the year shows the agency recorded more than 50,000 arrests in August alone, targeting individuals accused of murder, rape, child sexual offences and gang‑related crimes.
The department will keep its nationwide public‑safety surge in sanctuary cities and will maintain its enforcement policy until further notice, ensuring that all unlawfully present migrants are arrested and deported.