BREAKING: A federal judge on Thursday imposed a preliminary injunction on the Biden administration’s rules for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers significantly narrowing the categories of illegal immigrants being targeted for arrest and deportation – a ruling that marks the latest legal blow to the Biden administration’s immigration policies.

Judge Drew Tipton ruled that the policy was in violation of congressional mandates, and that Louisiana and Texas, who filed the lawsuit, were likely to succeed in their claim that the policy violated the Administrative Procedures Act (APA.)

ICE OFFICERS WILL NEED PREAPPROVAL BEFORE ARRESTING SOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS UNDER NEW RULES

The Biden administration issued the guidance in February, limited agents to focusing on three categories of immigrants: those who pose a threat to national security; those who have crossed the border since Nov. 1, and those who committed “aggravated felonies.”

Officials said the guidance does not explicitly prevent anyone from being arrested or deported. Instead, it directs resources at certain targets. However, field officers seeking to arrest someone outside of those three categories needed approval from their chain of command.

Critics noted that the guidance coincided with a sharp drop in arrests and deportations by the agency, and accused the Biden administration of trying to handcuff the agency.

The ruling is the latest blow to the Biden administration’s immigration policies. Earlier this year, Judge Tipton blocked the Biden administration from imposing a 100-day deportation freeze on ICE.

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Last week, a federal judge ordered the administration to “enforce and implement” the Trump-era Remain-in-Mexico policy in response to a lawsuit from Texas and Missouri — while giving them seven days to appeal.

This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.