Trump reaffirms ICE arrest policy after confusing guidance sparks alarm among agents

The Trump administration denied reports Saturday evening that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had temporarily instructed agents to limit arrests to illegal immigrants with criminal records.

The guidance alarmed some ICE agents, who described it as shocking and frustrating, Melugin wrote on X.

Sources later said the confusion stemmed from internal conversations about prioritizing the most serious offenders and that the directive was the result of a "miscommunication," rather than a formal change in policy.

"There is no change in immigration enforcement policy," Melugin wrote on X.

New guidance was sent to ICE field offices Saturday evening to reaffirm that the administration's enforcement policy had not changed, according to the sources.

Trump told Fox News that ICE can still arrest and deport anyone who is in the country illegally.

ICE agents will also continue arresting illegal immigrants without additional criminal histories, including "collaterals," or individuals encountered during an operation targeting someone else.