Nicci
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION POLICY THIS WEEK
Here, we summarize some of the most important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal, legal, state, and local levels.
Federal
Federal Immigration Arrests Continue in Minnesota, Expand to Maine
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continued to make widespread arrests in Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge, which began in December 2025. The operation expanded significantly on January 6 when as many as 2,000 additional agents were deployed to the area. In once case, reporters observed ICE agents forcibly entering a Minneapolis home on January 11 with only an administrative warrant, instead of a judge’s warrant. Reports also showed that federal agents entered another home without a warrant, detained a U.S. citizen at gunpoint, and escorted him outside in freezing temperatures while wearing only underwear. The arrests followed the disclosure of a May 2025 ICE memo that authorizes officers to enter homes using only administrative warrants signed by immigration officials rather than judges. The memo is likely to face legal action and represents a reversal of practices meant to respect constitutional limits on government searches.
On January 21, ICE officers detained five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father in their driveway after the child returned home from school. School officials reported that a agents instructed the boy to knock on the door, "essentially using a five-year-old as bait.".
Separately, a federal court ruled on January 16 that federal officers conducting the Minneapolis operation may not detain or use tear gas against peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities. The decision was temporarily paused by a federal appeals court on January 21, as the court considers the Trump administration’s request to block the lower court’s ruling.
On January 21, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched an immigration enforcement operation in Maine called "Operation Catch of the Day." Immigration officers arrested nearly 50 people and identifed approximately 1,400 individuals for potential detention. DHS officials described the Maine operation as a response to state leaders whom they accused of siding with immigrants with criminal records , while local officials said they hoped enforcement would rely on court warrants and targeted actions rather than the type of large-scale operations seen in Minneapolis.
Resettlement Agencies Report Widespread Detention of Previously Vetted Refugees
DHS is conducting a new operation, Operation Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening (PARRIS), that targets resettled refugees in Minnesota who have not yet adjusted to lawful permanent resident (green card) status. Local refugee agencies estimate approximately 100 individuals have been detained and arrested by immigration officers conducting "home visits.
DHS indicated that Operation PARRIS will soon expand beyond Minnesota.
Resettlement agencies and attorneys report that ICE officers have arrested individuals and families from their homes and rapidly transferred them to facilities in Texas, making it difficult to access legal counsel. Attorneys have also raised concerns about transparency, noting that it is often unclear what legal process is being used to re-examine these cases or how allegations are communicated. Similar enforcement actions have also been reported in Rhode Island, where Lao refugees with decades-old convictions from their youth have experienced detention and deportation. Advocates emphasize that refugees entered the U.S. legally after thorough vetting.
Congress Advances DHS Funding Legislation
The House passed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act on January 22 by a vote of 220-207, with seven Democrats joining most Republicans in approving the $64.4 billion measure ahead of a January 30 shutdown deadline. The bill keeps Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funded at about $10 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2026, but according to committee Democrats reduces the agency's enforcement and removal operations budget by $115 million and cuts the number of detention beds by 5,500 compared to the last spending bill – though this does not account for the additional ICE funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). House Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, voted against the bill, arguing it lacked adequate safeguards and accountability for ICE following recent enforcement operations and the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier this month.
The legislation requires DHS to spend $20 million to outfit immigration enforcement agents with body cameras, directs additional training on conflict de-escalation, and provides $20 million for independent oversight of detention facilities. Democrats sought broader reforms including preventing non-ICE personnel from conducting interior enforcement and banning face coverings for agents, but those provisions were not included in the final package. The DHS bill will be bundled with previously passed appropriations measures funding other agencies before being sent to the Senate.
Administration's Expanded Visa Restrictions Take Effect, Impacting World Cup and Cultural Events
The State Department implemented an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries on January 21, bringing the total number of countries subject to visa restrictions to 93 and affecting countries that represented approximately 48 percent of the legal immigrants who entered in 2024. The suspension affects family-based and, possibly, employment-based immigrant visas, including approximately 100,000 spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Nonimmigrant visas such as tourist and temporary work visas remain unaffected. The State Department justified the policy on public charge concerns, stating the pause would continue until the U.S. can ensure new immigrants will not "extract wealth from the American people," despite existing federal prohibitions on immigrant visa recipients receiving means-tested benefits for five years.
These and other visa restrictions have impacted preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. African fans expressed frustration that supporters of qualified teams including Senegal, Ivory Coast, and other African nations cannot travel to attend matches. Musicians and cultural organizations also reported disruptions to international touring and performances, with artists unable to obtain visas for extended U.S. engagements. The policy adds to previous restrictions that had already banned immigrant visa processing for 40 countries, with African countries comprising nearly 70 percent of the affected nationalities and approximately 90 percent of African immigrant visa applicants now barred.
Legal
Judge Declines to Block New Policy Limiting Congressional Oversight of ICE Facilities
A federal judge on January 19 declined to temporarily block the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from enforcing a policy requiring members of Congress to provide seven days' notice before visiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. The judge ruled that DHS did not violate her December 17 order blocking a similar policy because DHS Secretary Kristi Noem specified in a January 8 memo that the new policy would be funded exclusively through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act rather than annual appropriations legislation. The judge indicated that lawmakers challenging the policy would need to amend their lawsuit to address this new justification, though she did not assess the legality of the policy itself.
The ruling came after Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Angie Craig (D-MN), and Kelly Morrison (D-MN) were denied access to an immigration detention facility at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis on January 10, three days after an ICE officer shot and killed U.S. citizen Renee Good i. Attorneys for the Democratic lawmakers argued that DHS's funding shift was a questionable legal maneuver designed to circumvent the court's earlier order, which had cited an appropriations law provision stating that DHS cannot use funds to require lawmakers to provide prior notice before conducting facility oversight.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide require officers and employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection engaged in law enforcement or immigration enforcement activities to wear a clearly visible and scannable QR code, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) (2 cosponsors)
01/22/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Torres
01/22/2026 Referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary and Homeland Security
A bill to require the congressional districts established by a State to meet certain requirements, to prohibit States from carrying out more than one congressional redistricting after a decennial census and apportionment, to exclude aliens without lawful status under the immigration laws from number of persons used to determine apportionment of representatives and number of electoral votes, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) (0 cosponsors)
01/22/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Lawler
01/22/2026 Referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and House Administration
A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to limit eligibility of certain aviation privacy programs for immigration aircraft operations, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) (2 cosponsors)
01/21/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Crockett
01/21/2026 Referred to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Judiciary
A bill to limit the use of Federal contractors to perform certain enforcement activities under the immigration laws, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) (1 cosponsor)
01/20/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Krishnamoorthi
01/20/2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
The bill makes appropriations for Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and other departments and agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, with provisions supporting border security, homeland protection, and national defense aligned with administration priorities.
Sponsored by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) (0 cosponsors)
01/20/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Cole
01/22/2026 Passed the House
Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes
The bill makes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2026, supporting efforts to defend the homeland, bolster border protections, and enhance public safety.
Sponsored by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) (0 cosponsors)
01/20/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Cole
01/22/2026 Passed the House
LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to be in session Monday, January 26 through Friday, January 30. The House of Representatives is scheduled to be in session Monday, January 26 through Thursday, January 30.
UPCOMING HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
Reports by bodies such as the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General provide invaluable information on immigration policy and practice. Here, we give brief summaries of new immigration-related reports, with links to the resources themselves in case you want to learn more.
CRS provided an overview of the development of the U.S. asylum system, including recent legislative changes under P.L. 119-21.
CRS analyzed immigration court case outcomes for FY2025.
GAO testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security on border security issues, recommending that CBP improve performance data and deployment plans for vehicle scanning systems at land ports of entry.
UPCOMING HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 2:30 PM ET (Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution)
Location: 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Witnesses: To be announced
SPOTLIGHT ON FORUM RESOURCES
The Forum is constantly publishing new policy-focused resources that engage with some of the most topical issues around immigration today. Here are a few that are particularly relevant this week:
*As of publication (1/23/26 at 1:30PM EST)
This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Nicci Mattey, Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate at the Forum, with questions, comments, and suggestions for additional items to be included. Nicci can be reached at [email protected]. Thank you.
