Since 2011, American immigration authorities have been bound to not make arrests at, or near, "sensitive locations". Now, these directives are being repealed.
"Criminals will no longer be able to hide in American schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump administration will not handcuff our brave law enforcement officers, but instead trust that they use common sense", reads a statement from Benjamin Huffman, head of the Department of Homeland Security.
According to Tom Homan, whom Trump has appointed as his "border czar", even migrants without criminal records can be swept up in the upcoming immigration and customs enforcement raids. In an interview with CNN, he warned on Tuesday of more "collateral arrests" when authorities search for migrants to deport.
Schools instruct staff
Over 730,000 school-age children are estimated to be living illegally in the USA, according to AP. Undocumented Carmen from Mexico, whose two grandchildren attend a school in the San Francisco area, reacts with horror to the news that migrants can be arrested in schools.
Oh, God. I cannot imagine why they would do that, she tells the news agency.
Schools across the country are now preparing for what is to come, according to American media. Staff at a municipal school in New York have received clear instructions to protect the children: if immigration officials show up – ask them to wait outside and call a lawyer, writes The New York Times.
At the same time, teachers are trying to convince anxious parents to continue sending their children to school.
We have parents who are scared, says Adam Clark, superintendent of a school district north of San Francisco, to the newspaper.
"God's house"
Clark and his employees are trying to inform parents about their rights, he says – but acknowledges that the assurances schools can offer are limited.
Several churches are turning against the new directives, according to American media.
This is a lot of rhetoric aimed at scaring and terrorizing people, especially migrants, says Beth Brown, pastor at a Presbyterian church in Chicago, to NBC News.
If they don't have a signed court order, they can't enter churches or community centers. It's not just churches – it's God's house.
