January 1, ICE Pulls Back on Mass Deportations Ahead of Midterms

Wyatt’s Take

• ICE was ordered to stop arresting non-criminal illegal immigrants just weeks before the midterms.
• Officers say the move is about politics, not border security.
• President Trump built his movement on enforcing immigration law, and working Americans are watching to see if that promise holds.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers across the country were told this weekend to stop arresting illegal immigrants who have no criminal record.

The new limits allow agents to detain only those with convictions or pending charges, leaving people with final deportation orders untouched for now.

Officers are also barred from making collateral arrests, meaning anyone else found alongside a criminal target must be left alone.

Several agents voiced frustration, calling the sudden shift a political decision made ahead of the midterms.

“We believe it has something to do with the midterms coming up,” one source said. “They’re trying to calm things down before the elections.”

“We’ll see the arrest numbers go down,” another source said.

The policy change follows a shooting involving an ICE officer and a Venezuelan illegal immigrant in Austin, Texas, last weekend.

The officer was a recent hire and had been issued a body camera but was not wearing it at the time.

After the incident, agents nationwide were reminded that body cameras must be used during arrests.

“I hope Trump finds out about this sh*t and puts an end to it,” one ICE source said.

Wyatt Matters

Border security and the rule of law matter to families who built their lives on honest work and respect for the country. When enforcement takes a backseat to election-year optics, it sends a clear message that political timing matters more than protecting American communities.