ICE Enforcement at
Sensitive Locations

For decades, U.S. immigration enforcement agencies maintained formal guidance limiting enforcement actions at or near locations considered "sensitive" — including houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and sites providing social services. This guidance, first codified under the Obama administration and extended under Trump's first term, was premised on the recognition that enforcement at these locations would impede access to essential services and undermine community trust.

In January 2025, the Trump administration rescinded this longstanding guidance entirely, removing all formal protections for sensitive locations and directing immigration agents to pursue enforcement without geographic limitations.

In response, members of Congress introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would codify the prior enforcement guidance into federal statute, prohibiting immigration arrests, searches, or surveillance at houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and social services facilities except in defined emergency circumstances.

✎ This section is a placeholder. Replace with a full bill summary, sponsor list, and legislative status when ready.

The rescission of sensitive locations guidance has prompted legal challenges from civil liberties organizations, faith communities, and state attorneys general. Courts have been asked to determine whether enforcement actions at houses of worship violate First Amendment free exercise protections, and whether the absence of any formal process for reviewing the policy change constitutes a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

✎ This section is a placeholder. Add case names, docket numbers, rulings, and current status for each active legal challenge.

Research consistently shows that immigration enforcement in or near sensitive locations produces documented declines in utilization of essential services — not only among undocumented individuals, but among mixed-status families and legal residents who fear proximity to enforcement actions.

The consequences extend beyond the individuals directly affected: when parents fear sending children to school, school attendance falls. When patients avoid hospitals, conditions go untreated. When parishioners stop attending services, community bonds fracture. When witnesses and crime victims avoid courthouses, the justice system is undermined.

Researchers at public health institutions have documented measurable declines in prenatal care visits, emergency room utilization, and school enrollment in counties following high-profile immigration enforcement actions. These effects are not limited to the targets of enforcement — they extend to any community member who might be perceived as a potential enforcement target.

✎ This section is a placeholder. Add citations, studies, and specific data on documented chilling effects, including school attendance data, hospital utilization, and community impact reports.

This database documents ICE enforcement actions at or near locations historically protected under the sensitive locations guidance, drawing on news reports, court filings, government data obtained via FOIA requests, and accounts from advocacy organizations. Each incident includes at minimum one sourced news report or official record.

We define "sensitive location" according to the rescinded ICE guidance, which covered: schools and colleges, medical facilities, places of worship, social service establishments, and institutions providing assistance to children, pregnant women, or the elderly. Courthouses have been separately identified as sensitive by standing DOJ policy.

This is a living database. If you have documentation of an incident not included here, contact us at tips@protectsensitivelocations.org.