Letter: ICE searches violate 4th Amendment

There are three general exceptions to our Constitution’s warrant requirement allowing police entry into someone’s home. “Exigent circumstances” meaning matters of life and death, “hot pursuit” officers closely chasing a fleeing criminal who runs into a home, or, voluntary permission of the authorized occupant/homeowner. If I have a criminal arrest warrant signed by a judge and it is the perpetrator's home, the warrant will allow me to enter to make the arrest, but not search the house. If the perpetrator is in someone else’s home, I need a search warrant signed by a judge to go along with the arrest warrant. If the police don’t have permission, they must convince a judge they have probable cause to arrest the person and his location. So why is ICE forcibly entering a person’s home on an “Administrative Warrant” when those involve “civil” violations as opposed to criminal? All professional officers know the Fourth Amendment. ICE should re-evaluate this advice; lawful and ethical policing is paramount.