ICE raids to target immigrant families

Communities in ‘constant fear’ ahead of nationwide immigration enforcement operation

A nationwide immigration enforcement operation targeting people who are in the United States illegally is expected to begin this weekend after it was postponed last month by President Donald Trump, according to two administration officials and immigrant activists.

The operation, which has sparked outrage and concern among immigrant-rights advocates, would target people with final deportation orders, including families whose immigration cases were fast-tracked by judges in 10 major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Miami.

“Our communities have been in constant fear,” Estela Vara, a Chicago-area organiser said yesterday at a rally outside the city’s Immigration and Custom Enforcement offices where some activists chanted “Immigration Not Deportation!”

The sweep remains in flux and could begin later, according to the administration officials, who were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Still, activists ramped up efforts to prepare by bolstering know-your-rights pocket guides, circulating information about hotlines and planning public demonstrations.

The operation is similar to ones conducted regularly since 2003 that often produce hundreds of arrests. It is unusual to target families, as opposed to immigrants with criminal histories, but it’s not unprecedented. The Obama and Trump administrations have targeted families in previous operations. But this latest effort is notable because of the politics swirling around it.

Trump announced on Twitter last month that the sweep would mark the beginning of a push to deport millions of people who are in the country illegally, a nearimpossibility given the limited resources of ICE, which makes the arrests and carries out deportation orders.

Then he abruptly canceled the operation after a phone call with

"It sickens me that this is the United States of America."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, while lawmakers worked to pass a US$4.6 billion ($6.9b) border aid package. Plus, details had leaked, and authorities worried about the safety of ICE officers.

The agency said in a statement that it would not discuss specifics about enforcement operations.

“As always, ICE prioritises the arrest and removal of unlawfully present aliens who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security,” according to the statement.

Pelosi said she hoped the administration would reconsider. “Families belong together,” she said.

Pramila Jayapal

The administration has been straining to manage a border crisis, and some officials believe flashy shows of force in deporting families would deter others migrants from coming. But others have criticised any move that draws resources away from the border at a time when the Border Patrol is detaining four times the number of people it can hold. Also, a watchdog report found filthy, potentially dangerous conditions at some stations.

Democrat Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a former immigrant advocate, accused the administration of showing a “willingness to be cruel at every turn. It sickens me that this is the United States of America. We are so much better than this”.

Some activists said they were gearing up for operations to start Sunday and planned to protest. Organisers estimated a rally planned for today in Chicago would draw around 10,000 people.