DHS shifting immigration enforcement priorities over negative polling: report
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The Department of Homeland Security is changing its immigration enforcement operations, moving away from raids targeting all illegal immigrants in the United States and focusing more on those who have committed serious crimes, according to a report.
Teams under the command of U.S. Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino will focus on specific targets, including illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes, NewsNation reported.
The change means federal agents will place less emphasis on carrying out the massive raids that have occurred at Home Depot stores and other locations.
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The Department of Homeland Security is making changes to immigration enforcement operations. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Illegal immigrants are targeted based on characteristics such as ethnicity, accent, language or location, such as being at a Home Depot or a car wash.
Agents will still conduct traffic stops, but Border Patrol is unlikely to continue picking people up off the streets, the outlet reported.
The reported change in immigration enforcement comes as support for President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies has been eroded in polls.
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U.S. Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino (right) walks down the street in New Orleans. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)
A Public Religion Research Institute poll released earlier this week found that support for Trump’s handling of immigration fell to 33% from 42% in March.
A YouGov poll last month found that a majority of Americans oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations tied to Trump’s crackdown on immigrants.
In a poll last month by health policy research group KFF and The New York Times, nearly half of immigrants surveyed said they and their family members “feel less safe” with Trump as president.
U.S. Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino leads federal agents in Los Angeles. (Carlin Stiehl/Getty Images)
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Border Patrol has conducted immigration raids in several cities this year, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte. The raids led to many protests and lawsuits as the operations came under scrutiny for going too far.
Despite the updated tactics, a new operation called the “Catahoula Crunch” will continue in New Orleans. Agents have already arrested more than 250 people, and DHS said it aims to reach 5,000, according to NewsNation.
