WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The Department of Homeland Security is shifting its immigration enforcement strategy. The agency plans to move away from broad raids and focus more on immigrants who have committed serious crimes, according to a report cited by NewsNation. The change marks a clear adjustment in how federal agents carry out arrests. It comes after months of public backlash, legal challenges, and declining support for President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Teams working under U.S. Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino will now target specific individuals, the report said. These targets include immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who have felony convictions or links to violent crime.
The shift reduces the emphasis on large-scale raids at public places. Recent operations at Home Depot stores and similar locations drew sharp criticism. Civil rights groups accused agents of racial profiling and overly aggressive tactics.
Under the updated approach, agents will rely more on intelligence and case-specific leads. They will still conduct traffic stops and routine enforcement. However, Border Patrol agents are unlikely to continue detaining people randomly on streets, the report said.
Past raids often focused on visible traits. Advocates said agents targeted people based on ethnicity, accent, language, or where they worked. Locations such as car washes and parking lots became frequent sites of arrests.
Immigrant advocates argued those tactics spread fear in entire communities. Many families avoided work, school, and health care. Lawsuits followed in several cities, claiming the raids violated constitutional rights. The reported change aims to reduce those tensions. DHS has not announced a formal policy update. Still, the shift signals a response to mounting public pressure.
Public opinion has turned sharply against mass deportation efforts. A Public Religion Research Institute survey released this week showed a steep decline in approval. Support for Trump’s handling of immigration fell from 42% in March to 33%. Other polls point to similar trends. A YouGov survey last month found that most Americans oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations tied to Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Fear remains high within immigrant communities. A recent survey by KFF and The New York Times found that about half of immigrants said they or their family members feel less safe with Trump as president. Those fears intensified after highly visible raids in major cities.
Border Patrol has carried out migrant raids this year in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte. Protesters flooded the streets after several operations. Local leaders accused federal agents of going too far.
In some cases, city officials said they received little warning before raids began. Community groups organized rapid-response networks to document arrests and provide legal aid. Several lawsuits remain active. Plaintiffs argue that agents exceeded their authority and violated due process. DHS has defended its actions as necessary for public safety.
Despite the tactical shift, at least one major operation will continue. A new enforcement effort in New Orleans, called “Catahoula Crunch,” remains active. Agents have already arrested more than 250 people during the operation, according to DHS statements cited by NewsNation. The agency aims to make 5,000 arrests in total.
Officials say the operation targets people with criminal records. Critics question whether all arrests meet that standard. Local advocates warn the operation could mirror earlier raids that swept up nonviolent residents.
The reported changes suggest DHS is recalibrating its approach. By narrowing its focus, the agency may seek to balance enforcement with public trust. Supporters of the shift say it reflects the will of voters. “The people still have the power,” some advocates say. “Keep pushing.”
Whether the new tactics will hold remains unclear. DHS has not confirmed how long the strategy will last or how it will measure success. For now, the move signals a pause in sweeping raids and a renewed focus on serious offenses. The debate over immigration enforcement, however, shows no sign of ending.
