The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an unusually
firm and direct message to all Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
agents, making it clear that the federal government will fully support their
actions while they are carrying out their duties and that any attempt to
interfere with their operations will be treated as a serious crime.
In the internal communication, which was also made public,
the department emphasizes that agents have federal legal protection while
carrying out official orders and procedures. The message seeks to send an
unequivocal signal: no one has the authority to impede or obstruct the work of
ICE, whether a local official, a state authority, a political activist, or a
private citizen.
The text warns that touching, attempting to detain, or
obstructing a federal agent on duty can have severe criminal consequences, as
it will be considered assault or obstruction of federal government officials.
Similarly, the statement emphasizes that neither “sanctuary city” policies nor
local government decisions can supersede federal immigration law.
The Department of Homeland Security's stance comes amid
growing tension between federal authorities and some state and municipal
governments, where protests and attempts to halt immigration operations have
increased. For the federal administration, the message aims to deter blockades,
sabotage, or direct confrontations with agents in the field.
However, the statement has also generated concern among
civil society organizations and human rights experts, who fear that this type
of rhetoric could be interpreted as a license to act without limits. Although
legal protection exists for agents acting in the line of duty, legal experts
point out that this does not constitute absolute impunity and that any abuse of
authority remains subject to investigation and punishment.
With this pronouncement, the federal government makes it
clear that it is prepared to escalate the political battle surrounding the
enforcement of immigration law, reinforcing the role of ICE and warning that
any interference will be met with the full force of the law.
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