Obama-Appointed Judge Throws Wrench In Trump Policy Giving Illegal Migrants Nowhere To Hide

An Obama-appointed federal judge ruled Monday that deportation officers are not permitted to conduct enforcement operations in certain places of worship, potentially giving criminal illegal migrants safe haven from law enforcement.

Judge Theodore Chuang of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland blocked 🛂Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering houses of worship belonging to Quakers and other religious organizations involved in a lawsuit against the Trump administration, according to court documents. The legal battle revolves around so-called “sensitive locations,” areas in which ICE agents are directed not to conduct deportation operations.

Chuang, who was appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama in 2014, found that the Trump policy could violate the groups’ religious freedom and should be blocked while the court challenge continues on.

The fight around sensitive locations and what’s off limits for deportation officers dates back to an Obama-era directive issued nearly 15 years ago.

An ICE memo establishing “sensitive locations” was introduced in October 2011 by the Obama administration, which largely restricted ICE agents from entering schools, hospitals or churches. However, this list was expanded incredibly under the Biden administration to include broad areas of social services and public spaces, limiting the scope where ICE agents could catch criminal illegal migrants.