Mayor threatened after warning of ICE raids
Schaaf stands by her decision to publicly announce that ICE was planning raids in the Bay Area
OAKLAND » Despite online threats and criticism, Mayor Libby Schaaf on Monday stood by her weekend decision to boldly warn residents of possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps in Oakland and the Bay Area.
As angry callers from around the country phoned Oakland City Hall, federal authorities issued a statement that sanctuary cities such as Oakland are “not immune from federal law” and put law enforcement officers and the public at greater risk.
One threat posted on Facebook and directed at Schaaf referenced the 2015 killing of Kate Steinle, who was fatally shot by an undocumented immigrant in San Francisco. The author of the post said he hoped Schaaf or someone in her family would suffer a similar fate.
Schaaf spokesman Justin Berton said the mayor’s office notified the social media site of “the most severe threats, such as those that threaten harm.”
“Many decisions that I make have risks and rewards. I do not regret sharing this information,”
Schaaf said Monday afternoon. “I felt it was my duty to share the information I had, it was legal what I did and it is important that people know their rights.”
The calls — running about 125-3 negative vs positive by late Monday afternoon — came days after Schaaf went public with information that ICE was planning sweeps throughout the Bay Area. The mayor said she received tips from “credible sources” and consulted legal advice before issuing a news release Saturday and holding a news conference Sunday. In doing so, Schaaf took her most defiant stance yet against the Trump administration and threats of federal raids on local immigrant communities.
In January, after City Council voted to sever ties between Oakland police and ICE, Schaaf said she was willing to go to jail to protect residents.
In a statement issued Monday morning, federal officials did not directly address the mayor’s comments, but denied that the agency carries out broad sweeps of immigrant communities.
“ICE does not conduct sweeps or raids that target aliens indiscriminately,” said ICE spokesman James Schwab. “However, ICE no longer exempts classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.
The statement also said that sanctuary cities’ refusal to aid immigration enforcement operations creates a greater safety risk to those involved, and possibly others.
“While the vast majority of cities in America do cooperate with ICE, others force ICE to assign additional resources to conduct at-large arrests in the community, putting officers, the general public and the aliens at greater risk and increasing the incidence of collateral arrests,” Schwab said.
Though the mayor did not have specific details of targeted locations or communities, a spokesman for the San Jose-based Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network said ICE made “targeted deportation” arrests of 11 people on Sunday. Spokesman Erik Schnabel said five arrests occurred in Merced County, two in Sacramento County, two others in Pinole and El Sobrante, and one arrest each in Napa and Monterey counties. There was no indication of sweeps in Oakland and other larger cities as of Monday afternoon, Schnabel said.
Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan criticized Schaaf’s decision to publicly announce the possibility of ICE raids and said immigrant rights groups have advised officials to share information in a more private manner.
“Nobody in a position of leadership should be posting rumors,” Kaplan said. “It really could be used in a destructive way.”
Because the information did not come through “official channels” or law enforcement officials, the mayor said she believes she did not violate any laws, including obstruction of justice.
“I have been concerned that we not instill fear, that we not paralyze these communities with panic,” the mayor said. “I have tried very carefully for my message to be one of strength of power of resilience of (residents) having information and being prepared.”