ICE under scrutiny: Its director resigns and changes in how its agents will operate are announced

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is going through a series of profound transformations that could change the way they interact with our community. Amidst resignations of high-ranking officials and new rules to accelerate court cases, it is essential that you stay informed about what is happening.

Here we tell you the most important points in a simple way:

1. ICE director resigns after heavy criticism Todd Lyons, who was serving as acting director of ICE, submitted his resignation this Monday. His departure occurs at a time of high tension and following a “wave of criticism” for the way the agency has handled its operations recently. Although exact details of his departure have not been given, the leadership change happens as immigration detentions reach their highest levels since the current offensive began.

2. Body cameras and better training for agents Due to recent shootings involving ICE agents in Texas and Maine, authorities are seeking greater transparency. Tom Homan announced that how new agents are recruited and trained will be thoroughly reviewed. Additionally, Homan has publicly stated that the use of body cameras (the ones officers wear on their uniforms) is the way forward to avoid contradictory versions when a tragedy occurs.

3. Operations focused on the Haitian community If you have relatives or acquaintances from Haiti, it is important they know that ICE is preparing specific operations to detain people of this nationality. This is because the TPS (Temporary Protected Status) benefit for Haitians is about to end, and the government has been given the green light to terminate this program.

4. Asylum cases: now they will go straight to the judge An operational change that interests you if you have a pending asylum process is that USCIS (the agency that processes permits and visas) can now skip the initial interview.

• What does this mean? Previously, many people first spoke with an immigration officer. Now, the government can send your case directly before a judge.
• The goal: The government says this is to reduce the backlog of more than 1.6 million cases, but lawyers warn that this will speed up deportation processes for those who do not have a strong case.

5. Presence at airports In recent weeks, there has been an increase in ICE activity at airports to carry out detentions. This has even caused annoyance for commercial airlines, as the operations occur in public places and in plain sight of all travelers.

What can you do? Given these changes in ICE’s leadership and tactics, the recommendation from experts is always the same:

1. Keep your documents in order.
2. Do not miss your court dates.
3. Know your rights: Remember that you have the right to remain silent and to ask to speak with a lawyer if you are detained.

Stay tuned to our updates to know how these changes affect your procedures and your safety in the country.