The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that it has apprehended 150 persons in Northern California in a three-day raid. The operation is considered a success despite Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf early warning about the raids on Saturday.
ICE agents raided Sacramento, Stockton, and an undisclosed number of other cities in the Central Valley. Authorities said that half of the people they arrested were illegal aliens with criminal convictions.
Over the weekend, Schaaf took to social media to warn illegals in her city that the ICE was brewing a major sweep, citing “credible sources.” When asked why she would interfere with law enforcement, she said she felt it was her “duty and moral obligation” to keep residents safe.
She explained that she gave the early warning to enable some residents and their families learn their rights and legal options.
California Lawmakers Opposing ICE’s ‘Arbitrary’ Raids
California lawmakers including the governor and an army of mayors have strongly opposed the Trump administration’s plan for a major crackdown on illegal immigration in the state. They argued that the move is arbitrary as it is targeting “law-abiding” residents and dividing families.
The head of the ICE Thomas Homan criticized the Oakland mayor for trying to interfere with the operation that targeted sanctuary cities like Oakland and San Francisco.
Homan explained that these cities harbor and protect dangerous criminal aliens while sacrificing the public safety. Plus, the policies of these cities that bar ICE from taking into custody the aliens who are already in a jail are forcing ICE agents to arrest those aliens in public spaces, which puts at risk both the officers and bystanders.
ICE unveiled that the arrests included aliens with criminal convictions and a person who had been already deported back to Mexico eight times.
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