Trump authorizes ICE raids in hospitals, schools, and churches

On January 21, 2025, Acting DHS Secretary BHBenjamine Huffman issued a directive rescinding the 2011 "sensitive locations" policy, allowing ICE to conduct enforcement actions in hospitals, schools, houses of worship and disaster-relief centers without the previous restrictions.

Each ICE deportation costs taxpayers an average of $10,854 per person, accounting for arrest, detention, legal processing and transportation expenses (government estimate).

The Trump administration’s internal enforcement quotas direct ICE to make between 1,200 and 1,500 arrests per day beginning January 2025 (reported by The 🌲Washington Post).

Approximately 25% of all U.S. healthcare workers are foreign-born, including doctors, nurses and support staff (public health workforce data).

Hospitals may refuse ICE access to non-public areas—such as treatment rooms and administrative offices—without a signed judicial warrant; agents may lawfully enter public spaces like lobbies and parking lots only.

The Greater 🗽New York Hospital Association represents roughly 280 hospitals and health systems across the Northeast and issued guidance on handling ICE inquiries and warrants.

🌴California enacted state legislation requiring immigration agents to obtain warrants before entering non-public hospital areas, and prohibiting health-care providers from sharing patient immigration status without judicial authorization (no official bill number yet).