Top Democrats demand answers on DHS plans to deploy elite agents to sanctuary cities
Top Democrats on the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees are demanding documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding plans to send elite law enforcement units typically assigned to the southern border to take part in arrest operations in sanctuary cities across the country.
In a letter to acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad WolfChad WolfDHS chief: SWAT-like teams wouldn’t be needed if sanctuary cities would help ICE Trump to waive federal contracting laws to speed construction of border wall DHS gives New York the red light for state’s green light law MORE on Monday, the Democratic lawmakers demanded a “full briefing” within a week as well as documents by March 2 listing details such as the cities where the specially trained officers are expected to be deployed and the duration of their assignment.
“The committees have serious concerns over the utility of engaging these highly militarized units, which were never intended for routine immigration enforcement activities, in densely populated metropolitan areas,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerTrump adviser presses House investigators to make Bezos testify Nadler demands answers from Barr on ‘new channel’ for receiving Ukraine info from Giuliani Trump predicts Ocasio-Cortez will launch primary bid against Schumer MORE (D-N.Y.), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie ThompsonBennie Gordon ThompsonSenior black Democrats urge party chairman to take responsibility for Iowa Booker, Merkley propose federal facial recognition moratorium Hillicon Valley: Judge approves T-Mobile, Sprint merger | FTC to review past Big Tech deals | State officials ask for more cybersecurity help | House nears draft bill on self-driving cars MORE (D-Miss.) and subcommittee chairwomen of the two panels, Reps. Zoe LofgrenZoe Ellen LofgrenGillibrand proposes creating new digital privacy agency GOP senator proposes overhauling federal agency to confront Big Tech What the impeachment vote looked like from inside the chamber MORE (D-Calif.) and Kathleen RiceKathleen Maura RiceButtigieg plans NY fundraiser with Michael J. Fox House Dems demand answers regarding holding of Iranian-Americans at border Buttigieg picks up third congressional endorsement from New York lawmaker MORE (D-N.Y.), wrote in the letter.
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“Tactics such as these, which appear to be politically motivated and not grounded in national security, are unacceptable and do nothing more than punish residents and instill fear in communities,” they wrote.
The letter comes days after the administration confirmed it would send 100 border patrol officers to sanctuary cities to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The New York Times reported late last week that the Trump administration is sending specially trained officers in the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) that normally are involved in high-risk and potentially violent operations at the southern border to sanctuary cities such as Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to enhance the presence of local ICE officers.
Other cities include Atlanta, Houston, Boston, New Orleans, Detroit and Newark, N.J., according to the Times. The deployment is expected to last from February through May.
A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told media outlets that it was sending the 100 officers to work with ICE “in order to enhance the integrity of the immigration system, protect public safety, and strengthen our national security.”
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The Democratic lawmakers expressed concern that the plan “appears to be yet another retaliatory move aimed at cities that have opted to implement immigration policies with which the administration does not agree.”
They pointed to DHS announcing earlier this month that New York residents would no longer be eligible for the Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler programs in response to the state’s law permitting undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. New York law prohibits the state from sending data to ICE and CBP.
And last year, Nadler, Thompson and then-House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah CummingsElijah Eugene CummingsHouse to vote next week on bill to create women’s history museum The Hill’s Morning Report – Icy moments between Trump, Pelosi mark national address Baltimore unveils plaques for courthouse to be named after Elijah Cummings MORE (D-Md.) demanded documents on the Trump administration’s proposal to release detained immigrants into sanctuary cities, which tend to be in congressional districts represented by Democrats.
“Not only does the Administration lack the legal authority to transfer detainees in this manner, it is shocking that the President and senior Administration officials are even considering manipulating release decisions for purely political reasons,” top Democrats wrote in a letter to Trump administration officials last April.
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