ICE expands home entries with admin warrants, drawing civil rights scrutiny

ICE has begun entering residences without traditional judicial warrants, instead using administrative warrants authorized by a May 12, 2025 memo to arrest or detain people subject to removal orders in their homes. DHS confirms the policy is in use, but critics say it violates the Fourth Amendment and raises civil-liberties concerns. The memo followed a March 2025 DHS Office of General Counsel opinion, and the policy has been incorporated into training materials as enforcement actions, including in Los Angeles, have ramped up; the exact number of homes entered has not been disclosed.