A weekend of chaos inside Immigration and Customs Enforcement ended the way these things usually end when President Donald Trump finds out: with the White House telling the field that no one is off the table.
On Saturday, agency sources told Daily Wire immigration reporter Jennie Taer that ICE officers across the country had been given verbal orders to stop arresting illegal aliens who do not have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges “for the time being.”
The same sources said the guidance would also kill so-called “collateral arrests” — the long-standing practice of taking into custody other illegal aliens found with a criminal target. People with final deportation orders but no extra criminal paper would be left on the street.
Officers who received the message were furious.
“They’re trying to calm things down before the elections,” one ICE officer told Taer. Another source hoped Trump would “find out about this sh*t and put an end to it.”
Taer posted the scoop Saturday evening:
SCOOP: ICE officers across the country were told this weekend to stop arresting non-criminals, agency sources tell @realDailyWire
Now, ICE may only arrest illegal immigrants with criminal convictions or charges for the time being, said the sources.
The change also ends so-called “collateral arrests,” sources said, meaning officers who find a criminal target alongside others in the country illegally may detain only the target.
SCOOP: ICE officers across the country were told this weekend to stop arresting non-criminals, agency sources tell @realDailyWire
Now, ICE may only arrest illegal immigrants with criminal convictions or charges for the time being, said the sources.
The change also ends…
— Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) September 27, 2026
DHS pushed back, calling the report false and saying “no one is off the table.” The department said ICE would continue arresting and deporting people in the country illegally, while targeting criminal illegal aliens in a nationwide public-safety surge in sanctuary cities.
“This is false. No one is off the table. We will continue to arrest any and all illegal aliens that come into our path.
Anyone in our country illegally will be arrested and deported.
In an effort to protect American citizens, ICE has initiated a nationwide public safety surge in sanctuary cities where our brave officers will be targeting criminal illegal aliens—many released from jails by sanctuary politicians—including murderers, rapists, child predators, and gang members.”
This is false. No one is off the table. We will continue to arrest any and all illegal aliens that come into our path.
Anyone in our country illegally will be arrested and deported.
In an effort to protect American citizens, ICE has initiated a nationwide public safety surge… https://t.co/mGGHkZjxaZ
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 27, 2026
The picture became clearer after Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported that he had spoken with President Trump and nine ICE and DHS sources.
Melugin said the verbal guidance had gone out to ICE offices, but sources described it as erroneous, apparently stemming from a miscommunication during discussions about prioritizing the “worst first.”
He reported that new guidance was sent to field offices reaffirming that arrests, including collateral arrests, would continue. Trump told Melugin that anyone in the country illegally remained eligible for arrest and deportation.
So while DHS denied that ICE policy had changed, Melugin’s account indicates that officers did receive a confusing verbal instruction before it was corrected.
Melugin wrote:
“I’ve spoken on the phone with President Trump and nine ICE & DHS sources about this today. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Yes, this verbal guidance did go out to ICE offices across the country last night. I’ve spoken with ICE agents who received it & were shocked & frustrated by it. It’s unclear who it started with.
However, I’m told it’s erroneous, was some type of “miscommunication” during conversations about prioritizing “worst first”, and there is no change in immigration enforcement policy.
President Trump tells me anyone in the country illegally remains “on the table” for ICE arrest & deportation.
I’m also told new guidance went out to ICE field offices tonight to reaffirm this and that yes, arrests of illegal aliens and “collaterals” without additional criminal history will continue. ICE sources confirm to me they received the new guidance.
I’m not really sure what happened here – but everyone is on the same page, including President Trump, in telling me that his immigration enforcement agenda isn’t scaling back.”
I’ve spoken on the phone with President Trump and nine ICE & DHS sources about this today. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Yes, this verbal guidance did go out to ICE offices across the country last night. I’ve spoken with ICE agents who received it & were shocked & frustrated by it.… https://t.co/BVGsEbvjCu
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 27, 2026
The story comes as DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who is drawing heavy fire from conservative watchdogs and immigration patriots, issues a startling public declaration that federal enforcement officers will not be targeting illegal immigrants at commercial worksites across Kansas.
According to reporting from NewsNation’s Ali Bradley, DHS clarified its position on social media, asserting that ICE is deliberately avoiding sweeping worksite operations in the Jayhawk State.
Bradley wrote on X, stating, “NEW: DHS says @ICEgov is not arresting illegal immigrants at worksites in Kansas.”
Mullin posted on X that “ICE is not conducting worksite operations in Kansas.” He added that agents have instead “conducted operations targeting heinous criminals including murderers, rapists, and drug traffickers and illegal aliens with final orders of removal.”
ICE is not conducting worksite operations in Kansas. ICE law enforcement has conducted operations targeting heinous criminals including murderers, rapists, and drug traffickers and illegal aliens with final orders of removal.
Some of the worst arrested by ICE in Kansas include: https://t.co/fwKqgQ8c8D
— Secretary Markwayne Mullin (@SecMullinDHS) September 25, 2026
