Mayors across America’s most progressive cities have announced they will refuse to cooperate with ICE officials after it was reported that mass deportation raids started this weekend.
The Washington Post reported that President Trump directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to begin rounding up migrant families who have received deportation orders, targeting 2,000 families in 10 major U.S. cities including Houston, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles.
The news comes after Trump made headlines when he tweeted that ICE will begin deporting millions of illegal immigrants. He later delayed that directive for two weeks.
Multiple city and state officials have come out against the raids.
Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot said in a statement that Chicago police will not cooperate with ICE agents.
"I reiterated that CPD [Chicago Police Department] will not cooperate with or facilitate any ICE enforcement," Lightfoot said. "I have directed – and Superintendent Johnson has confirmed – that CPD has terminated ICE's access to CPD's databases related to federal immigration enforcement activities."
Mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser said that local law enforcement will not ask about someone's immigration status, declaring in a statement that D.C. "remains a proud sanctuary city, and we are committed to protecting the rights of all our immigrant families in the face of these disturbing threats."
Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti also stated that LAPD will not cooperate with ICE.
“Los Angeles will always stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters, and our law enforcement officers will never participate in these actions,” he said in a statement. “No Angeleno should ever have to fear being snatched from their home or separated from their loved ones — and we are doing everything we can to provide immigrant families with the information and support they need.”
In addition, mayor of New York and Democratic presidential candidate Bill De Blasio condemned Trump's directive, calling the raids "cruel" and "inhumane" while offering resources for immigrants concerned about their status.
We know our neighbors are worried. Please know your city is here for you.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 22, 2019
Resources are here for those who have received an order from immigration courts or have concerns about their status.
Know your rights. Follow @NYCImmigrants. We’re here and ready to help families in need. https://t.co/IhBs3nA5iB
Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo also came out against the raids.
“We will fight back at every turn to protect our immigrant families,” he said in a statement. “New York will continue to be the beacon of inclusion and diversity that the nation and the world looks to.”
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