Churches, schools no longer safe from immigration enforcement, new DHS guidance says

EL PASO, TEXAS (KVIA) -- The Department of Homeland Security released a statement today, announcing they are rescinding the "sensitive" location guidance from the Biden Administration.

This action means that CBP and ICE will no longer be avoiding churches and schools during immigration enforcement.

According to a DHS spokesperson, "This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murders and rapists—who have illegally come into our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense."

ABC-7 reached out to El Paso school districts, who are working on their responses at this time.

ABC-7 also reached out to the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, who released this statement:

"At the border, we are already seeing many drastic actions from the federal government related to immigration that deeply affect our local community and raise urgent moral and human concerns.
The end of the Department of Homeland Security’s sensitive locations policy strikes fear into the heart of our community, cynically layering a blanket of anxiety on families when they are worshiping God, seeking healthcare and dropping off and picking up children at school.
We have also seen the rapid and indiscriminate closure of the border to asylum seekers and the return of the ill conceived Remain in Mexico policy, violating due process and restricting the few legal options available to the most vulnerable who knock on our door seeking compassion and aid.
I direct my words to our local immigrant community. Whatever your faith and wherever you come from, we make your anxieties and fears at this moment our own. We stand with you in this moment of family and personal crisis and pledge to you our solidarity, trusting that the Lord, Jesus Christ, will bring about good even from this moment of pain, and that this time of trial will be just a prelude to real reform, a reconciled society and justice for all those who are forced to migrate.
In response, the Diocese of El Paso will continue to educate our faithful on their rights, provide legal services and work with our community leaders to mitigate the damage of indiscriminate immigration enforcement. Through our Border Refugee Assistance Fund, in partnership with the Hope Border Institute, we are preparing to channel additional humanitarian aid to migrants stranded in our sister city of Ciudad Juarez."

Bishop Mark J. Seitz