The Daily Wire’s Jennie Taer reported Saturday that ICE officers across the country had been told to stop arresting illegal aliens who lack criminal convictions or pending charges. Final deportation orders would not be enough. “Collateral arrests” were out too. If agents found a criminal target sitting next to other illegal aliens, they were to take only the named target and leave the rest.
Officers who received it were not confused about what they heard. One told Taer the timing looked political. “We believe it has something to do with the midterms coming up,” the source said. “They’re trying to calm things down before the elections.” Another predicted the obvious. “We’ll see the arrest numbers go down.”
A third source put it in language that does not need a press shop. “I hope Trump finds out about this sh*t and puts an end to it.”
He did.
The Guidance Went Out. Then It Died.
DHS answered first with a midnight denial. “This is false. No one is off the table,” the department posted. “We will continue to arrest any and all illegal aliens that come into our path. Anyone in our country illegally will be arrested and deported.” The same statement advertised a nationwide public-safety surge in sanctuary cities aimed at murderers, rapists, child predators, and gang members released by sanctuary politicians.
The denial was half a truth. The surge may be real. The stand-down was also real.