Last Friday, as part of the new administration's immigration reform efforts, ICE quietly announced a new appeals process (“Ice Case Review”) involving arrests, detention and deportation. This is a follow up to the agency's recent announcement that their priorities will be on national security and public safety; the focus will now be on criminals rather than just anyone undocumented.
With the new program, an unfavorable local ICE decision may be appealed to the newly created office in Washington, D.C.
Priority will be given to people detained in ICE custody or pending imminent removal.
Implementing this program should have the effect of making sure that ICE, out in the field, is actually paying attention to the revised priorities.
While the are no program specifics yet, the announcement is welcome as it is indicative of a real shift in enforcement priorities.