USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli, who isn’t in charge of immigration enforcement but is a frequent source of commentary (presumably on behalf of the White House) about immigration enforcement, issued several tweets today that seem to contradict yesterday’s statements from ICE regarding its enforcement activities during the pandemic.
THREAD: In light of widespread misreporting, clarification of @ICEgov's recent announcement about enforcement during the #coronavirus situation is needed:
— Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) March 19, 2020
(2/5) The health and safety of Americans is paramount. Thus, @ICEgov will, as it has during other times of crisis, conduct enforcement operations that protect our communities and uphold our laws.
— Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) March 19, 2020
(3/5) This means that @ICEgov will continue to prioritize arresting and removing criminal aliens and other aliens who pose a threat to public safety, just as it always has during President @realDonaldTrump's administration.
— Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) March 19, 2020
(4/5) That does not mean that no other removable aliens will in fact be removed, but during the current public health situation, removals will be done in such a way as to minimize the exposure of our agents and of the removable aliens we are encountering.
— Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) March 19, 2020
(5/5) @ICEgov will exercise its law enforcement authority in a manner that accounts for the dangers presented by #coronavirus, while maintaining the safety and security of the communities it has sworn to protect.
— Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) March 19, 2020