June 17, 2011policy changeimmigration policycivil libertiesfederal enforcementimmigrationexecutive powercivil rights
ICE Director Morton issues memo listing courts as sensitive locations where arrests should be avoided
ICE Director John Morton issued prosecutorial discretion guidance establishing that officers should generally avoid enforcement actions at or near sensitive locations, including schools, churches, hospitals, and courts. The memo instructed agents to consider whether potential targets had pending immigration cases when deciding whether to arrest. It did not ban courthouse arrests but made them procedurally disfavored.