ICE can now enter homes without a judge’s warrant, sparking civil rights concerns.

Immigrants in the United States may no longer be protected by the long-standing advice to refuse entry to ICE agents without a judge-signed warrant, according to an internal ICE memo, which reveals agents can now forcibly enter homes using administrative warrants that do not require judicial approval. This shift, reported in January 2026, represents a significant departure from decades of practice and has already resulted in raids using tactical gear and ramming doors, raising serious civil rights and constitutional concerns. Lawmakers and advocates warn that the change undermines Fourth Amendment protections, erodes trust in immigrant communities, and may expand enforcement beyond previous limits, though the exact scope of implementation is unknown.