ICE Memo Permits Home Entries Without Judicial Warrants

Federal immigration officers have been authorized to forcibly enter private homes without a judicial warrant to arrest individuals facing deportation, according to an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by whistleblowers and shared with Congress. The directive, dated May 12, 2025, and signed by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, marks a significant shift from prior policies that required warrants approved by a judge or magistrate.

The memo instructs ICE agents that an administrative warrant, known as Form I-205 and issued by Department of Homeland Security officials, suffices for entering residences when a person has received a final order of removal from an immigration judge. Previously, such entries demanded a judicial warrant based on probable cause, aligning with Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. The document specifies that agents must knock and announce their presence, allow time for compliance, and avoid entries before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m. If denied access, officers may use "necessary and reasonable" force, provided they believe the target resides and is present at the address.