The claim that ICE changed its policy to allow officers to enter homes without a judicial warrant is mostly true because multiple recent reports and an internal memo confirm ICE officers can now use administrative warrants to enter homes without judge approval, although this practice remains legally and constitutionally contested.
Mostly True
ICE quietly changed policy to allow ICE officers to enter homes without a judicial warrant
ICE officers authorized to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
Source: nbcnewyork.com
At a glance
Verified January 22, 2026Key Evidence
Multiple news outlets (NBC New York, MPR News, CNBC, Forbes) report on an internal ICE memo authorizing home entry without judicial warrants using administrative warrants.
The memo permits forced entry for arrests based on these administrative warrants.
Legal experts and immigrant rights groups highlight that administrative warrants do not equate to judicial warrants and raise constitutional concerns.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Recent investigative reports from multiple reputable news organizations, including NBC New York, MPR News, CNBC, and Forbes, reveal that an internal ICE memo authorizes immigration officers to enter private residences using administrative warrants rather than judicial warrants. This represents a significant policy shift from prior practice, where judicial warrants were generally required for home entry.
The memo reportedly allows officers to forcibly enter homes based solely on these administrative warrants to arrest individuals with final removal orders. However, this policy change has sparked controversy because administrative warrants do not carry the same legal weight as judicial warrants under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Advocacy groups and legal experts argue that this new authority conflicts with constitutional protections.
Meanwhile, longstanding legal resources and immigrant rights organizations continue to emphasize that ICE traditionally cannot enter homes without a valid judicial warrant or consent. The new policy appears to be a recent development in early 2026, as reflected by the dates of the news reports. There is some ambiguity about how broadly or consistently this policy is applied in practice and whether it will face legal challenges or changes.
Overall, the evidence supports that ICE has quietly implemented a policy allowing entry into homes without judicial warrants via administrative warrants, but this remains legally disputed and controversial.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source