Democrats press ICE for answers on raids that 'have struck fear



2/11/17 5:48 PM

A group of Democrats with "serious concerns" are looking for more information about nationwide raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week, resulting in hundreds of arrests of people who have entered the U.S. illegally which may lead to deportation.

"These raids have struck fear in the hearts of the immigrant community as many fear that President Trump's promised 'deportation force' is now in full-swing," reads a letter dated Friday from members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to acting ICE Director Thomas Homan.

The letter, signed by CHC Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., along with five other Democratic members, asks ICE to set up a meeting with them by Feb. 15 in order to "discuss the impact these raids have had on our communities as well as obtain clarifying guidance on how ICE policies will differ from the last Administration."

The lawmakers also requested the agency make public an internal memo meant to clarify a recently signed executive order signed by President Trump that instructs federal agents to enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act and pursue people who have entered the U.S. illegally and who had previously not been deemed the focus of the Obama administration's Priority Enforcement Program.

"It is critical that our constituents have clarity on ICE operations and we request a copy of this memo," the letter reads. "Without this guidance, our communities will be paralyzed as students will remain home from school, parents will be afraid to leave children alone and our local economies will be irreparably damaged."

The raids, which took place Thursday and Friday, were conducted in at least six states, including cities like Atlanta and Los Angeles. A spokesperson for ICE told the Washington Examiner that, despite reports of checkpoints and community sweeps, the "focus" of these particular raids were "no different than the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICE's Fugitive
Operations Teams on a daily basis."

Activists have pushed back against ICE's claims, saying that the raids were part of a more hardline approach to immigration that Trump has alluded to ever since becoming a presidential candidate.

"Despite ICE's claims, Donald Trump's raids are designed to sow fear and terror in immigrant communities," tweeted America's Voice, a group supporting immigrants' rights and comprehensive immigration reform.

In their letter, the lawmakers said that despite outreach, neither the Homeland Security Department nor ICE have provided their offices any "concrete data pertaining to these activities," including the exact locations of the raids, reasons for the apprehensions and how many individuals, including how many parents of undocumented children, were taken in.

Federal officials, as well as activists, have reported that the majority of those detained were adult men.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/de...rticle/2614595