From the January 29, 2021, edition of Sinclair Broadcast Group's The National Desk

JAN JEFFCOAT (ANCHOR): The Biden administration is pushing for new restrictions on ICE enforcement. Last week the administration did order a temporary moratorium on deportations. That was blocked, though. So this morning The National Desk’s Angela Brown is looking at what this policy change means for enforcing that law. Angela, good morning.

ANGELA BROWN (THE NATIONAL DESK NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT): Well, good morning, Jan, but first let’s recap what happened. The Biden administration called for a 100-day moratorium that would have prevented ICE from removing illegal immigrants who were in the U.S. before November 1 of last year, with some exceptions. But on Tuesday a federal judge temporarily blocked that order for 14 days, saying the Biden administration had failed to establish a reasonable justification for halting deportations. 

Mark Morgan, the former acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told The National Desk the moratorium is in direct violation of immigration law. Critics are concerned, though, the moratorium will handcuff ICE, stopping them from deporting illegal immigrants accused of crimes. 

Then on Wednesday, two GOP lawmakers reintroduced a bill that would allow victims of violence caused by illegal immigrants in sanctuary jurisdictions to sue their local governments. 

While this battle is playing out in public, the Biden administration is making moves behind the scenes. They have already revoked President Trump’s executive order aiming to strip sanctuary cities of federal grant money. Well, after this 14-day stay is over, Jan, we're going to get a clearer picture of how the policy will impact immigration. Of course we'll stay on top of this story and bring you updates as they come in.