Trump looks to release migrants in Dem cities

Trump’s statement came after the White House and the Department of Homeland Security denied a proposal was still under consideration

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump threatened to release detained undocumented immigrants into so-called sanctuary cities, while blaming the country’s immigration laws on Democrats.

“Due to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, giving strong considerations to placing Illegal Immigrants in Sanctuary Cities only,” Trump wrote in a tweet.

The president went on accusing the “radical left” of supporting open borders, claiming that his proposal “should make them very happy!”

Sanctuary cities in the US local jurisdictions that refrain from cooperating with federal authorities in detaining undocumented immigrants for possible deportation.

Speaking about California, Trump added, “California certainly is always saying, ‘Oh we want more people,’ and they want more people in their sanctuary cities. Well, we’ll give them more people. We can give them a lot. We can give them an unlimited supply.”

Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel said in a statement, “What President Trump fails to understand is that America is a sanctuary country. Small, medium and large cities across the nation are suddenly and rapidly identifying as sanctuary cities because of the abandonment of Americans values, ideals and cultural destiny under Trump’s watch.

Emmanuel added, “Not only does hate have no home in Chicago, but, as a welcoming city, we would welcome these migrants with open arms just as we welcomed Syrian refugees, just as we welcomed Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria and just as we welcome Rohingya refugees fleeing genocide in Myanmar.

Chicago will always be a welcoming city; immigrants of all faiths, nationalities, and ethnicities help make Chicago the most American of American cities.” Representative and Chair of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler said, “What the President is talking about here is spending taxpayer dollars to use immigrant families—mothers, fathers and young children—as pawns for political retribution. ”

Trump’s statement came after the White House and the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday denied that proposal was still under consideration.