President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. immigration authorities to carry out raids on schools, churches, and hospitals as part of an aggressive effort to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants.

This policy shift comes amidst a series of executive orders and has raised concerns both domestically and internationally, particularly in countries like Nigeria.

Previously, certain locations such as schools, churches, and hospitals were considered “sensitive areas” where enforcement actions were restricted.

However, Trump’s new directive reverses these policies, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) more authority to arrest individuals in these spaces.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the statement on Tuesday, detailing the change and emphasizing the need to eliminate any sanctuary spaces where individuals might evade arrest.

Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman explained that the new policy would empower ICE officers to act without restrictions, ensuring criminals cannot hide in places like schools and churches to avoid deportation.

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the statement read.

“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement officers and trusts them to use common sense.”

The directive also includes a nationwide reinstatement of expedited removal procedures, which allow ICE to quickly deport individuals unable to prove continuous residence in the U.S. for over two years.

This aligns with the administration’s broader efforts to tighten immigration laws and reduce the number of undocumented immigrants in the country.

In addition to these changes, Trump signed several executive orders this week, including one to suspend the refugee system and block access to an app that facilitates U.S. entry.

The administration also aims to strengthen collaboration between ICE and local law enforcement agencies.

ICE officials have confirmed that operations to arrest and deport undocumented individuals will begin immediately.

Tom Homan, the president’s border czar, stated that ICE officers would be actively enforcing immigration laws across the nation.

However, these policies have drawn criticism from various advocacy groups.

The Center for Law and Social Policy expressed concerns over the negative impact on immigrant families, particularly those with children who are U.S. citizens.

They worry that families may be discouraged from seeking essential services like medical care, disaster relief, and education due to fear of deportation.

Religious leaders have also condemned the move.

At an inaugural prayer service, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington called on the administration to show greater compassion toward immigrants and vulnerable communities.

John Kiama Wambua, a 29-year-old man, was arrested in Huruma, Nairobi, after being found with a bag containing mutilated body parts of his 19 year old wife, Joy Fridah Munani

Police in Kenya arrested Wednesday a man found carrying the mutilated corpse of his wife in a backpack, the latest case of gender-based violence to appal the country.

It comes only weeks after hundreds of women were tear gassed as they rallied in the capital Nairobi to demonstrate against femicide and demand action from the authorities.

A murder investigation has been launched after John Kiama Wambua, 29, was detained by Nairobi police at around 5:00 am (0200 GMT), when a routine patrol examined his bag.

Officers suspected the man of carrying illegal goods, but “to their shock discovered part of a mutilated human body”, the directorate of criminal investigations said on X.

Police said Wambua was “unperturbed” by the discovery of the body parts, which he said during an interrogation were of his 19-year-old wife, Joy Fridah Munani.

He led officers to the couple’s home, where police found a “horrendous” scene with a bloody floor, blood-stained clothes and the murder weapon “a sharp knife”.

They said more human remains were found beneath a bed, but “some body parts were still missing”.

In November, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had recorded 97 murders of women in the last three months.

Domestic violence periodically hits the headlines in the East African nation, with activists repeatedly warning of femicide.

Last year, the country was left horrified by the killing of Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who was doused in petrol and set alight in Kenya by her boyfriend.

She was just the latest woman athlete to lose her life in domestic abuse, after Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has called for measured responses following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tariff threats.

After his inauguration, Trump warned that he would impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada if both countries did not meet U.S. immigration standards by February 1.

At the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Okonjo-Iweala addressed the situation during a panel discussion on Tuesday.

She urged WTO members to remain calm and wait for actual policy actions before reacting.

“I’m concerned, but my approach is to stay calm,” she remarked.

“Let’s wait to see what policies are enacted and put into practice before we jump to conclusions. It’s important to be cautiously optimistic.”