Immigration agents have not arrested any non-criminal immigrants in the Houston area in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, an agency spokesman told NBC News.
The suspension of arrests is a step beyond the promise made by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ahead of the storm. On Friday, the agency said "routine non-criminal immigration enforcement operations will not be conducted at evacuation sites, or assistance centers such as shelters or food banks."
"Our priority in the hurricane-stricken areas is saving lives," ICE said in a statement. "While we’re not conducting immigration enforcement in affected areas, we will not allow criminal enterprises to take advantage of the situation, and ICE personnel will remain vigilant toward such activities."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that people in need were not being asked to produce their papers.
"No one is being asked about their status," the governor said.
Photo Credit: Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
from NBC New York - Top Stories http://ift.tt/2x6yZmW
source IFTTT
