Four Democrats who represent the Inland Empire in Congress are demanding to know more about recent federal actions targeting undocumented immigrants.
In addition, the office of Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, said Tuesday that the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement “abruptly canceled” a meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus where representatives planned to discuss last weekend’s enforcement actions.
“The communities we represent were the most impacted by ICE’s activities this weekend, and ICE thus far has failed to provide the necessary clarification regarding the scope and effects of these raids,” Torres, whose district includes Chino, Fontana and Ontario, said in a news release.
In an emailed statement, ICE’s media office wrote: “ICE leadership agreed to meet with six Democratic members of Congress who signed a request on Friday, Feb. 10, with the purpose of updating them on ICE’s recent enforcement operations.
“Because the attendees list grew substantially, DHS reached out to the House leadership staff to arrange a bipartisan, in-depth briefing, which the Speaker’s office arranged and scheduled for Thursday of this week. ICE looks forward to sharing information on its enforcement operations and how they are humanely and professionally enforcing U.S. immigration law.”
According to media reports, almost 700 undocumented immigrants, mainly criminals, were arrested in five-day operations in six states. ICE has said the actions were routine.
But advocates for undocumented immigrants brought up President Donald Trump’s vow to crack down on illegal immigration and said the actions went beyond the normal scope to target non-threatening individuals.
In a letter dated Tuesday to an ICE field director in Los Angeles, Torres and Reps. Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands, Raul Ruiz, D-La Quinta, and Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, had a number of questions, including:
• Whether ICE officials had warrants prior to entering homes.
• The total number of people from Riverside and San Bernardino counties detained by ICE and details about who they are.
• Whether the actions were planned in advance or part of a Trump administration crackdown.
Torres, who emigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala at age 5, sent a separate letter to an ICE official in L.A. with similar questions.
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