California Declares Itself A Sanctuary State, So ICE Director Tells Them To Get Ready For Onslaught Of Raids

ICE promised more raids in California in the wake of the state’s ‘sanctuary state’ declaration.

ICE Director Tom Homan Will Detain Illegals Caught In California Out Of State

The director of the nation’s immigration enforcement said his agents will “have no choice” but to conduct workplace and neighborhood immigration raids due to California’s new state-wide sanctuary law.

ICE Acting Director Tom Homan said that when Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill to make California a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, including those who have committed crimes, it undermined public safety and hindered ICE from doing its “federally mandated mission.”

“The governor is simply wrong when he claims otherwise,” Homan said in the press release.

Homan said the California law nearly eliminates all cooperation and communication with law enforcement officers in California.

“ICE will have no choice but to conduct at-large arrests in local neighborhoods and at worksites, which will inevitably result in additional collateral arrests, instead of focusing on arrests at jails and prisons where transfers are safer for ICE officers and the community,” Homan said.

“ICE will also likely have to detain individuals arrested in California in detention facilities outside of the state, far from any family they may have in California.”

The state law also prohibits immigration holds, which is when ICE asks local jails and prisons to hold a prisoner after that person would be released, which gives ICE a chance to respond and take them into custody.

The Hill reported that California’s new law allows for ICE agents to interview and arrest detainees in local facilities only if they first obtain an arrest warrant.

Supporters of the California law said it was necessary to protect against excessive enforcement measures.

“The California Values Act is a stinging rebuke to the nativism of President Trump and his drive to deport millions,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice Education Fund.

“Trump and Sessions are determined to bully state and local jurisdictions into turning immigrants over to ICE even though it diverts law enforcement from protecting the public. With this and other steps, California is declaring that it wants no part in aiding and abetting Trump’s deportation force,” Sharry said.