On January 20, 2021, Acting Secretary David Pekoske signed a memorandum entitled Review of and Interim Revision to Civil Immigration Enforcement and Removal Policies and Priorities. In part, that memorandum directed DHS to immediately pause the execution of final orders of removal for certain noncitizens for 100 days beginning no later than January 22, 2021. The 100-day pause was enjoined by a federal court in Texas v. United States, et al., 6:21-cv-0003 (S.D. Tex.).
The 100-day period during which DHS would have paused the execution of certain final removal orders has now otherwise expired and would no longer be in effect under the terms of the memorandum. DHS does not intend to extend or reinstate a policy requiring a pause on the execution of final orders of removal for any noncitizens.
In accordance with the civil immigration enforcement priorities directed by DHS, ICE is focusing its limited resources on national security, border security, and public safety. This has allowed ICE to focus on furthering the security and safety of our communities. DHS is actively working on the final priority guidelines discussed in the January 20, 2021 memorandum.