ICE memo says officers may enter homes without a judge's warrant

An internal ICE memo obtained by The Associated Press says officers can rely on administrative warrants to arrest people at their residences without a judge-signed warrant, and the development comes as federal immigration enforcement expands to Maine. An appeals court has paused a lower-court order limiting some ICE tactics in Minnesota while the government appeals.

Federal immigration officials are reported to have issued an internal memo that directs officers to rely on administrative warrants when making arrests at a person's residence. The memo was obtained by The Associated Press and comes as the federal government expands immigration enforcement actions in states including Maine. Key details: - The memo, dated May 12, 2025 and signed by an acting ICE director, states the Department of Homeland Security's legal office determined administrative warrants may be used to arrest people at their homes. - The Associated Press obtained the memo and a related whistleblower complaint from a congressional source and verified the documents. - A Homeland Security statement said individuals served with administrative warrants have had a final order of removal and that officers found probable cause for arrest. - An appeals court has temporarily stayed a lower-court order that limited certain enforcement tactics in Minnesota while the government pursues an appeal. Summary: The memo changes internal guidance and has been tied to training for officers being deployed in expanded enforcement operations, including an operation announced for Maine. Legal and operational consequences are undetermined at this time while appeals and official reviews proceed.