ICE raids spark fear, protests and questions
With a new round of ICE raids set to begin today, hundreds protested in Southern California and immigrants targeted by the Trump crackdown braced for the federal action.
Many elements of the raid still remain unclear, including exactly how many are being targeted and how much the new action will be different from regular ICE activities.
“We are receiving calls from migrants that are very scared,” said Hugo Castro with Border Angels, a migrant rights group. “They are canceling their plans for the weekend. For example, we talked to one family who was planning to move this weekend and now they are afraid to move with this going on.”
On Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed to White House reporters what he called a “major operation” starting today.
“Nothing to be secret about,” Trump said before leaving for a fundraising trip. “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.”
Trump didn’t comment on how many people might be affected.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman wouldn’t give many details.
“Due to law enforcement sensitivities and the safety and security of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, the agency will not offer specific details related to enforcement operations,” a statement read.
The raids, which could roll out over an extended period, are expected to take place in at least 10 cities.
Though the operation will target a couple thousand people with court removal orders, it also will include “collateral” deportations in which agents may detain immigrants without legal status who are not intended targets but happen to be in the area.
The raids are expected to target not only families but also children who arrived at the border without adults, were released to parents or other sponsors and ordered deported, said Greg Chen, director of government relations at the Washington-based American Immigration Lawyers Association. ICE officials in New Orleans have announced that they were suspending immigration enforcement this weekend in areas of southern Louisiana and coastal Mississippi where Tropical Storm Barry made landfall Saturday.
But migrant advocates called on ICE to suspend the raids in surrounding states so that migrants felt safe evacuating.across the country, migrant advocates were monitoring hotlines and social media for reports that the raids had started and organizing teams to respond.
FIEL Houston had a team of 80 volunteers ready to deploy this weekend, some of whom responded to rumors of raids early Saturday that proved unfounded, according to Cesar Espinosa, the group’s executive director.
“The intention is to be there for people and let them know their rights and keep ICE accountable” during the raids by taking photos and video, he said.
“Our major concern is that in the past they were saying they were only going to be targeted operations but little by little they have been moving the needle,” Espinosa said of ICE agents.