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ICE Increasingly Using Warrants for Home Raids

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2026/02/1 .. -increasingly-using-warrants-for-home-raids.html
  Published in House and Home on Tuesday, February 10th 2026 at 7:29 GMT by nbcnews.com
      Locales: Texas, Florida, Illinois, New York, California, UNITED STATES

Washington D.C. - February 10th, 2026 - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly altered its standard operating procedures, increasingly utilizing judicial warrants to enter private homes during immigration enforcement operations. This shift, first observed last summer, represents a departure from the agency's long-held practice of providing verbal warnings before entering a residence, raising substantial concerns among civil rights advocates and legal experts.

Sources within ICE, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirm the agency is now actively seeking warrants from judges, authorizing entry into homes to locate individuals suspected of immigration violations. While ICE traditionally relied on reasonable suspicion and, in many cases, voluntary cooperation, the agency is now prioritizing obtaining judicial authorization - a process that introduces a higher legal standard but also expands its power of entry.

NBC News has not independently verified the specifics of each warrant, but the confirmed trend highlights a growing emphasis on interior enforcement, even as the Biden administration publicly states its commitment to humane border management. This apparent contradiction is fueling debate about the administration's overall immigration policy.

According to those familiar with the process, the warrants are sealed and require judicial approval. The documents must clearly specify the address to be searched, the individual ICE is seeking, and the documented reasons supporting the search. This is intended to provide a layer of accountability and legal justification for the potentially intrusive action of entering a private residence.

However, civil rights groups are voicing alarm. "This isn't about simply enforcing existing laws; it's about a fundamental shift in how ICE operates, increasing the risk of abuses and eroding due process rights," stated Anya Sharma, legal director for the National Immigrant Alliance. "The potential for misidentification, wrongful entry, and the creation of a climate of fear within immigrant communities is immense. Simply having a warrant doesn't negate the impact on families and the psychological trauma associated with having armed federal agents enter your home."

The concerns aren't limited to potential errors. Critics point to the inherent power imbalance created by these warrants. Individuals, particularly those with limited English proficiency or unfamiliar with the legal system, may be unaware of their rights or unable to effectively challenge the warrant's validity. The sealed nature of the warrants further complicates matters, hindering transparency and external oversight.

This new strategy coincides with a broader pattern of increased immigration enforcement under the Biden administration. While the administration initially signaled a departure from the aggressive "zero tolerance" policies of the previous administration, deportation numbers have risen in certain categories, and interior enforcement operations have become more frequent. Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University [ https://trac.syr.edu/ ] shows a consistent upward trend in ICE's interior enforcement arrests over the past two years.

Experts suggest several factors may be driving this shift. Increased pressure from congressional Republicans demanding stricter border control and increased deportations is likely playing a role. Furthermore, a growing number of individuals released into the U.S. while awaiting asylum hearings may be contributing to a backlog of cases, prompting ICE to prioritize the apprehension of those with outstanding immigration violations. However, critics argue that pursuing individuals already integrated into communities and contributing to the economy is a misallocation of resources.

The agency's handling of cases involving families and children has already drawn considerable criticism. The increased use of home warrants is expected to exacerbate these concerns, potentially leading to more separations and trauma for vulnerable populations. Several legal challenges are anticipated, focusing on the constitutionality of the warrant procedures and the agency's compliance with due process requirements. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has already announced its intention to file a lawsuit challenging the practice, arguing that it violates the Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure.

ICE, in a brief statement, reiterated its commitment to operating within the bounds of the law. "ICE complies with all applicable laws and regulations and prioritizes the safety of its personnel and the public during enforcement operations," the statement read, but provided no further details about the warrant program. The agency remains largely silent on the specifics of the new policy, fueling speculation and deepening concerns among those working to protect immigrant rights.