The Trump Administration continues to overhaul enforcement of the nation's immigration laws. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has notified Congress that it will no longer halt deportations for illegal immigrants based on pending legislation that could grant them amnesty. Under the prior policy, ICE placed a voluntary hold on deportation proceedings if there was amnesty legislation introduced in Congress. That gave members of Congress a way to slow down the deportation process by introducing new bills, even if they had no chance of passing.
In its letter, ICE says that placing those stays on certain deportations "could prevent ICE from removing aliens who fall within the enforcement priorities of (President Trump's) Executive Order." That order, signed earlier this year, orders ICE to seek priority deportation of criminal aliens who pose a risk to public safety or national security.
Since the President signed that executive order, his administration has taken further steps to speed up and enhance enforcement of immigration law, such as sending more immigration judges to border regions.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly outlined the administration's immigration policy in a recent address on national security. "Since the first week of President Trump's administration, we have been actively securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws," he said. "Not only is this our right as a sovereign nation, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety of the American people."