The Trump administration may conduct pre-dawn immigration raids that could target up to 2,000 immigrant families in as many as 10 U.S. cities this upcoming Sunday, “three U.S. officials with knowledge of the plans” tell The Washington Post.
On a phone call Friday afternoon, immigrant rights advocates said they believe Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., could be among the cities targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Washington Post specifically lists Houston, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles.
”The agency is planning to use hotel rooms as temporary staging areas to detain parents and children until all the members of a family are together and ready for deportation,” the report continues. Officials reportedly acknowledged there could be “collateral arrests,” a crass term ICE uses to describe arrests of people who weren’t targets but were at the site of an operation.
Should they happen, the raids will come following Donald Trump’s threat to round up and separate “millions” of immigrant families. This is part terror tactic and part election strategy, but it is 100% cruelty, and immigrant rights advocates are urging families to plan ahead and be prepared. That includes knowing their rights, and that information is available here from the American Civil Liberties Union.
Immigrant rights advocates are also urging allies to be loud and forceful in opposing any raids. That includes recording ICE arrests—which is legal but should be done carefully—and peacefully participating in protests. “You have the right to film law enforcement in public spaces, but do not interfere with law enforcement activities.”
“Make no mistake: Trump is doubling down on his family separation policy and we and our elected officials at all levels of government must stand up and say no,” said Richard Morales of Faith in Action. “We will not be bullied. We will not allow Trump to continue ripping children away from the arms of their mothers and fathers so that Trump can secure the support of his nativist base … we are ready to fight hate and stand up for love of our fellow human beings.”