Limits of federal agents: What they can and can't do during immigration enforcement

As the uncertainty of additional federal immigration agents deploying to the Bay Area grows, legal experts say it’s becoming increasingly unclear where lawful enforcement ends and potential overreach begins.

Immigration agents are granted broad powers under federal law, but critics warn those powers are being stretched in ways that test constitutional boundaries. Recent court rulings and pending legislation have added to the uncertainty.

Under U.S. law, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has long had discretion to stop and question individuals they suspect of violating immigration laws. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, officers can arrest someone without a warrant if they have “reasonable cause” to believe the person is in the U.S. illegally and may flee before a warrant