President Donald Trump’s administration denied reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents must now only arrest immigrants with criminal records. This denial came Saturday evening after agents received mixed signals about their duties. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported that verbal guidance to prioritize the “worst first” caused widespread alarm among field offices.
Some agents described the sudden shift as shocking and frustrating before the correction arrived. The White House stated clearly that no formal change in policy had occurred. The administration confirmed that agents can still arrest and deport anyone in the country illegally. New guidance was sent to field offices to reaffirm that the aggressive enforcement agenda remains in place.
Officials explained that the confusion stemmed from internal talks about focusing on serious offenders rather than a new rule. Sources told Melugin the directive was simply a “miscommunication” rather than a strategic pivot. The broader immigration enforcement plan, which includes expanded deportations, has not been scaled back. Trump told reporters that ICE will continue to arrest “collaterals,” or individuals found during operations targeting someone else. This clarification ensures that the agency’s biggest arrest month in history will not face new limits.
I’ve spoken on the phone with President Trump and nine ICE & DHS sources about this today. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Yes, this verbal guidance did go out to ICE offices across the country last night. I’ve spoken with ICE agents who received it & were shocked & frustrated by it.… https://t.co/BVGsEbvjCu
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 27, 2026
Despite the official correction, some ICE officers told The Daily Wire they were still told to stop arresting non-criminals. These sources spoke on the condition of anonymity and claimed federal agents may only arrest those with criminal convictions. They stated that individuals with final deportation orders but no criminal charges would not be arrested.
The change reportedly ends “collateral arrests,” meaning officers can only detain the specific criminal target they find. Frustration over the abrupt shift in direction was voiced by multiple officers. A source indicated the halt could be a move to win public support ahead of the midterms.
“We believe it has something to do with the midterms coming up,” one source said to the Daily Wire. Before the elections, they are attempting to calm things down. Another agent predicted that arrest numbers would go down significantly under the new instructions. Just one week prior, an ICE officer in Austin shot a Venezuelan migrant, sparking this internal strife. The officer, a recent hire, had a body camera but failed to wear it during the incident. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis first stated the shooting occurred after a “small foot pursuit.”
Following the White House withdrawing his nominee to lead ICE, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin faces intense scrutiny. The New York Times reported that Lance Schroyer was removed from consideration for the top spot at the agency. Similar questions arose in July when Mullin briefly halted ICE traffic stops after two fatal shootings in Maine and Texas. After opposing the pause, Trump rapidly reinstated those traffic stops. An ICE source questioned if agency leadership informed the President before canceling non-criminal arrests.
“I hope Trump finds out about this sh*t and puts an end to it,” the source said. The situation highlights the tension between field agents and leadership during a time of high scrutiny. Public approval of the White House’s handling of illegal immigrants has dropped to 43 percent. This is a decrease from a high of 48 percent last summer, according to Fox News data. The administration insists the policy remains unchanged despite the reports from the field.
