Biden Administration Halts Detention of Most Pregnant, Postpartum Illegal Immigrants

A pregnant Honduran immigrant stands in line with fellow immigrants for a bus to a U.S. destination from McAllen, Texas, on Aug. 15, 2016. John Moore/Getty Images

U.S. immigration agents will no longer detain most pregnant or postpartum illegal immigrants, in the latest loosening of border enforcement by the Biden administration.

An updated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy, announced July 9, states that agents “should not detain, arrest, or take into custody for an administrative violation of the immigration laws individuals known to be pregnant, postpartum, or nursing unless release is prohibited by law or exceptional circumstances exist.”