Biden Administration Says It Won’t Conduct Immigration Arrests Near Vaccination Sites

Topline

The Department of Homeland Security promised Monday to keep immigration agents away from coronavirus vaccination clinics, aiming to relieve some undocumented immigrants’ fears that getting vaccinated could put them in legal jeopardy, a notable shift from former President Donald Trump’s approach to enforcing immigration laws.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who needs a vaccine can get one, regardless of their immigration status,” DHS said in a statement.

Key Background

As Pfizer and Moderna’s coronavirus vaccines are distributed nationwide, some advocates warn undocumented immigrants could be tough to reach. Many people who lack legal status worry that going to a vaccination clinic could leave them exposed to federal immigration authorities, or that personal data collected at those clinics could be used against them. Plus, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) said last month undocumented immigrants will receive lower priority for vaccines, though it’s unclear how he plans on enforcing this pledge since vaccination sites don’t ask for immigration status.

Tangent

DHS’ pledge not to enforce immigration laws at vaccination clinics could signal a changing set of tactics for the agency under Biden. In a 2011 memo, ICE promised to steer clear of “sensitive locations” like schools, hospitals and places of worship except in unique circumstances. Trump officially kept this policy in place, but scattered anecdotes of immigrants getting arrested outside of schools and churches began to emerge, and ICE’s new strategy of mass raids and sweeping arrests caused advocates to warn about widespread fear in immigrant communities. Biden’s administration says it will rewrite ICE’s enforcement guidelines, backing away from a Trump-era policy of deeming all undocumented immigrants priorities for arrest.

Further Reading

Fear Of Deportation Prompts Undocumented Immigrants To Resist COVID-19 Vaccine (WGBH)

Fear could stop the coronavirus vaccine from reaching some of the people who need it most (CNN)