Operation 'Safe City': ICE Arrests 450 'Sanctuary City' Immigrants
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What’s the story?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Fugitive Operations teams arrested nearly 500 people in raids targeting undocumented immigrants in so-called "sanctuary cities."
ICE arrests over 450 on federal immigration charges during Operation ‘Safe City’ https://t.co/SxsnVlQ4X5 pic.twitter.com/YgOLHcdLEp
— ICE (@ICEgov) September 28, 2017
ICE announced on their website that:
"Operation ‘Safe City’ focused on cities and regions where ICE deportation officers are denied access to jails and prisons to interview suspected immigration violators or jurisdictions where ICE detainers are not honored."
Officials said that the four-day "Operation Safe City" targeted undocumented immigrants in New York, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Philadelphia, Denver, Washington and Baltimore, as well as Cook County, Illinois; Portland, Oregon; and Massachusetts.
Why does it matter?
President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have advocated for a crackdown on the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Part of this crackdown, as the Los Angeles Times explained, is a demand that "local law enforcement agencies give immigration agents unfettered access to jails and delay releasing immigrants from custody so that agents can nab them."
But cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New York have pushed back against the Trump administration’s demands by passing ordinances to limit police compliance with ICE agents in order to shield undocumented immigrants.
Sessions has excoriated these sanctuary cities in speeches, calling them a "predator’s best friend." The AG has also threatened to withhold funds from cities, which the courts have ruled are unconstitutional.
Some have seen "Operation Safe City" as punishment for sanctuary cities’ non-compliance.
"It’s clearly a political move that is not actually geared toward public safety," said Talia Inlender, a senior staff attorney at Public Counsel, which advocates for immigrants.
But Tom Homan, ICE’s acting director, said the operation was necessary precisely because the cities shield immigrants.
"Sanctuary jurisdictions that do not honor detainers or allow us access to jails and prisons are shielding criminal aliens from immigration enforcement and creating a magnet for illegal immigration, "Homan said in a statement. "As a result, ICE is forced to dedicate more resources to conduct at-large arrests in these communities."
ICE said the operation "targeted individuals who have violated U.S. immigration laws," with agents focusing on undocumented immigrants with criminal pasts and “known gang members and affiliates.” Those benefitting from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program “were not targeted.”
What do you think?
Was Operation ‘Safe City’ a "political move that is not actually geared toward public safety"? Or do sanctuary cities force ICE to “dedicate more resources to conduct at-large arrests in these communities”? Hit Take Action, tell your reps what you want ICE focusing on, then comment below.
—Josh Herman
(Photo Credit: Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
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