U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Customs and Border Protection are standing down enforcement activities in Uvalde, Texas, following the May 24 school shooting.
In a May 25 statement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security said areas that provide emergency response and relief are protected areas, and the ICE and CBP organizations do not conduct immigration enforcement activities in protected areas. The site of the incident in Uvalde is a protected area.
"To the fullest extent possible, ICE and CBP do not conduct immigration enforcement activities in protected areas such as along evacuation routes, sites used for sheltering or the distribution of emergency supplies, food or water or registration sites for disaster-related assistance or the reunification of families and loved ones," the statement said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials do not conduct enforcement activities in protected areas.
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According to the release, ICE and CBP agents provide emergency assistance to people, "regardless of their immigration status" and U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials "do not and will not pose as individuals providing emergency-related information as part of any enforcement activities."
Categorizing the Uvalde site as a protected area allows individuals, regardless of immigration status, to "seek assistance, reunify with family and loved ones and otherwise address the tragedy that occurred," according to the release.
