ICE Raids Sanctuary Cities

In recent four-day sweep of several sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Denver, ICE agents arrested almost 500 people from 42 countries with no legal immigration status. Dubbed “Operation Safe City” by ICE officials, the operation specifically targeted cities that ICE claim gives sanctuary to undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. Amid the escalating conflicts between sanctuary cities and the Trump administration, ICE announced its intention to devote more resources to these jurisdictions, claiming that law enforcement officials in those cities do not cooperate with ICE by either honoring ICE detainers or granting ICE access to incarcerated immigrants. Operation Safe City resulted in over 100 arrests in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, as well as arrests in Northern California, Boston, Denver, and Portland, OR. Overall, ICE agents arrested 167 immigrants in seven counties in Southern California. ICE reported that one immigrant arrested in Los Angeles was a known Mexican gang member who had entered the country illegally. When ICE agents attempted to apprehend the man, he rammed his car into multiple law enforcement vehicles in order to evade arrest, and when officials finally arrested him, they found a loaded handgun in his pocket. Even as the Trump administration has sought to crackdown on immigration enforcement and punish those jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with ICE, sanctuary jurisdictions have fought back with court challenges and other forms of resistance. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has actively sought to punish sanctuary jurisdictions by withholding federal funds, but multiple lawsuits have thwarted those efforts thus far. For instance, a federal judge in Chicago has issued a preliminary injunction blocking a U.S. Justice Department policy that would require the city to cooperate with ICE or lose public funds for safety. This injunction applies to all sanctuary cities nationwide. Despite many cities’ efforts to protect their residents, no matter their legal status, ICE agents are still arresting and detaining immigrants with no legal status at astonishing rates. Regardless of the circumstances your case may involve, the skilled and knowledgeable immigration lawyers of Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. are here to get immigrants released from detention and defend them against removal from the country. We handle these types of cases on a regular basis and have valuable knowledge about how to best represent your interests, based on your individual circumstances. By contacting our office right away, you will place yourself in the best position possible to have loved ones released from detention and defend again potential removal from home and family.