Immigration and Customs Enforcement will halt nearly all deportations for 100 days, following through on a promise of President Biden, according to an internal memo directing the move.
“For 100 days, starting January 22, 2021, DHS will pause removals for certain noncitizens ordered deported to ensure we have a fair and effective immigration enforcement system focused on protecting national security, border security, and public safety,” acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske said in a statement issued late Wednesday evening.
Pekoske said the suspension of deportations, which is likely to affect thousands, will allow the department to take stock of its immigration and border policies as the department leadership transitions between a Republican and Democratic administration. ICE removed 185,000 people in fiscal 2020, which ended Sept. 30, 2020, marking the lowest rate in a decade.
ICE is responsible for arresting and detaining people who are illegally residing in the United States as the result of coming over the border without permission or overstaying a visa. As of Jan. 15, it reported having approximately 14,700 adults in its custody, which is the lowest figure in years as a result of court orders that mandated high-risk detainees be released due to the threat posed by the coronavirus. ICE has also taken fewer people into custody. During the 2019 humanitarian crisis at the border, more than 50,000 adults were in the agency’s custody.
Pekoske’s memo to agency officials states that deportations of most people who have been ordered by a judge to be removed will not be carried out, with the exception of immigrants who are suspected of terrorism or espionage or pose a different national security threat; who were not in the U.S. before Nov. 1, 2020; who voluntarily agreed to waive any rights to remain in the country; or who are exempted by the acting ICE director.
DHS said the move will allow it to boost staff at the U.S.-Mexico border in the midst of the pandemic, as a caravan of thousands of people moves through Central America with the goal of getting to the U.S. southern border.
Pekoske was the Senate-confirmed leader of DHS agency Transportation Security Administration under former President Donald Trump. He was moved to DHS headquarters Wednesday to lead the third-largest federal department until Biden’s nominee, Alejandro Mayorkas, can be confirmed.
