California’s two U.S. senators want to be briefed on any plans by the Trump administration for a major immigration sweep in San Francisco and other Northern California cities.
Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan asking how raids are prioritized. They also asked for all communications regarding upcoming raids in California.
They reacted to an anonymous tip off in a San Francisco Chronicle report and recent promises by Homan and others to conduct raids in response to a new California law strictly limiting the cooperation of local law enforcement with federal immigration authorities.
The senators say retaliatory raids would be “an abhorrent abuse of power” and should instead target dangerous criminals.
Immigration officials declined comment on any possible specific operations.
California’s attorney general says he is concerned about open-ended immigration sweeps as he says the Trump administration should be concentrating on deporting dangerous felons.
Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Wednesday that it’s the federal government’s responsibility to protect the nation’s borders.
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But he says the goal should be public safety, not deporting otherwise law-abiding immigrants who are in the country illegally.
Pelosi called any planned raids “an act of pure malice” against hard-working immigrants simply for being Californians.
Mayors for San Francisco and Berkeley — both "sanctuary cities" — spoke out, promising to protect their residents.
"If you are facing immediate enforcement activities, please call 415-200-1548. Translations available. If you need any legal immigration services, please contact @OCEIA_SF at 415-581-2358," tweeted San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin tweeted: "#Berkeley will not be intimidated by threats of ICE raids on #SanctuaryCities. Our community is ready to stand with our undocumented neighbors, with many of us, including myself, willing to risk arrest in order to protect our values."
As a #SanctuaryCity, we support all our residents.
If you are facing immediate enforcement activities, please call 415-200-1548. Translations available.
If you need any legal immigration services, please contact @OCEIA_SF at 415-581-2358.— London Breed (@LondonBreed) January 18, 2018
