Immigration agents are planning to target newly settled migrant families, the majority of whom are without a criminal record.
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Residents across the United States spent Saturday protesting across the country the impending raids by members of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), set to begin Sunday in 10 major U.S. cities, as announced by the federal administration.
From the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump stated Friday: “It starts on Sunday, and they're going to take people out, and they're going to bring them back to their countries, or they're going to take criminals out—put them in prison or put them in prison in the countries they came from.â€
ICE agents are planning several major raids that will to target newly settled migrant families, the majority of whom are without a criminal record, National Public Radio reports, adding that the raids will likely continue until July 18.
Collateral arrests, arrests of migrant persons found at or around the scene unrelated to those targeted, will also be made, ICE agents said.
The operations will take place in New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco.
Officials and organizations in each city are taking steps to mitigate the unwarranted arrests. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot who has continued to speak out against the Trump administration's immigration policies and practices, says the city's police department will not cooperate with ICE in any way.
"That means that they will not team up with ICE to detain any resident. We have also cut off ICE access from any CPD (Chicago Police Department) databases and that will remain permanent," Lightfoot said Thursday.
Meanwhile in Miami, activists are setting up "safe sanctuary spaces in secret locations for those seeking to avoid being caught up in the raids," according to a local NPR outlet.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he’s getting reports that a nationwide crackdown on immigrants facing deportation is already underway in his city.
The sweeps were expected to start Sunday, but de Blasio tweeted on Saturday that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had already taken action in New York. ■