Thread: ICE arrests more than 150 illegal immigrants in California

ICE arrests more than 150 illegal immigrants in California raids and slams the Oakland mayor for 'letting some escape' by issuing early warning

Half of those detained have serious criminal convictions, the authorities say

ICE officials say the mayor was 'reckless' to give advance notice of the raids

But the mayor says she did so because she did not want to break up families

Democrat politicians are uneasy about President Trump immigration crackdown

By Alastair Tancred For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 09:12 GMT, 28 February 2018 | UPDATED: 11:16 GMT, 28 February 2018

More than 150 people have been arrested since the weekend in the greater San Francisco area who are suspected of violating immigration laws.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents say about half of those detained have criminal convictions for assault and battery, crimes against children, weapons charges and DUI.

A top Immigration and Customs Enforcement official quoted by the Los Angeles Times said that he believed others were able to avoid being arrested after the Oakland mayor warned people who were in the area about the forthcoming raids.


ICE officers have been ordered by President Trump to clamp down on illegal immigration in Califronia -
he said there would be a crime wave if they did not do their work (file picture)


US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers say they have arrested are least 150 undocumented
immigrants since the weekend in the San Francisco area (file picture, ICE officers)


Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf (left) argued it was her 'ethical obligation' to issue warnings ahead of the
raids which are supported by President Trump (right)

Mayor Libby Schaaf said she had heard from multiple sources that immigration agents would be conducting enforcement operations 'starting as soon as within the next 24 hours' and urged those in the area illegally to take precautions.

The message stunned many, The Los Angeles Times said, and on Monday some of that surprise turned to confusion and anger as large-scale immigration sweeps did not materialize.

ICE Deputy Director Thomas D. Homan condemned 'sanctuary laws' in San Francisco and Oakland, saying they endanger immigration officers.

'Sanctuary jurisdictions like San Francisco and Oakland shield dangerous criminal aliens from federal law enforcement at the expense of public safety,' he said.


Protesters against the arrests of illegal immigrants have been held across California in recent months


Protesters say the arrests of illegal migrants are unfair, unethical and discriminatory


Mayor Schaaf (right) has argued that it is Oakland's legal right to be a sanctuary city and her administration
had not broken any laws

'Because these jurisdictions prevent ICE from arresting criminal aliens in the secure confines of a jail, they also force ICE officers to make more arrests out in the community, which poses increased risks for law enforcement and the public.'

'The Oakland mayor's decision to publicize her suspicions about ICE operations further increased that risk for my officers and alerted criminal aliens — making clear that this reckless decision was based on her political agenda with the very federal laws that ICE is sworn to uphold.'

Democrat politicians and some Californian officials have expressed strong reservations about President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, arguing they are are unfair and discriminatory.


Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan has strongly condemned
Mayor Schaaf's decision to give advance warning of the raids

Tensions have risen in recent weeks as administration officials have talked about targeting California for increased immigration enforcement. Trump last week said he was contemplating a withdrawal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from the state, predicting that in turn could cause a crime wave.

Holman said that 864 immigrants with criminal histories are still at large despite the raids and that 'some of them were able to elude us thanks to the mayor's irresponsible decision'.

Among those on the run are Oakland residents with multiple prior removal orders, said James Schwab, a spokesman for ICE in San Francisco, a field office that spans nearly counties from Bakersfield to the Oregon border.

They include people convicted of carrying a loaded firearm and selling drugs, and another suspected of transporting cocaine and having sex with a minor.

Immigration 'detainers' lodged against them have been 'repeatedly ignored', Schwab said. 'Instead they have been released back into the community to potentially re-offend.'

In a statement Tuesday night, Schaaf stood by her decision to go public.

'My statement on Saturday was meant to give all residents time to learn their rights and know their legal options. It was my intention that one mother, or one father, would use the information to help keep their family together,' the mayor said.

'I do not regret sharing this information. It is Oakland's legal right to be a sanctuary city and we have not broken any laws. We believe our community is safer when families stay together.'

San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell released a statement saying that the city won't 'cower' as the 'administration pursues their political plan of haphazardly punishing sanctuary cities.'

In fiscal year 2017, ICE arrested 20,201 people across the state, Schwab said. Of those, he said, 81 percent had criminal convictions.

Some of those who were arrested in the latest sweep will be prosecuted for returning to the country after deportation, Schwab said. One person arrested in Bay Point had been removed from the country eight times.

Another, a documented Sureno gang member identified as Armando Nunez-Salgado, has four prior removals, Schwab said. Over the last 18 years, he added, the 38-year-old has been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, hit-and-run causing injury and evading a peace officer.

But dozens of people caught in the sweep have no criminal histories, Vcstar.com reported. Although the raids prioritized people who pose a threat, officials said anyone violating immigration laws were subject to arrest.

ICE arrests more than 150 illegal immigrants in California

Make her "dream" come true...throw her in prison with MS-13!!!

ICE arrests more than 150 people in Bay Area following Democratic mayor's

Started 02-27-2018 08:09 PM