Mayor Breed on protecting SF from ICE: 'I wouldn't mind going to jail'
SAN FRANCISCO (Rob Roth/KTVU) - In the increasingly tense battle over immigration policy, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and San Francisco's acting Mayor London Breed say they're willing to risk their personal freedom to support sanctuary cities.
"This is one of those issues where I wouldn't mind going to jail for the first time in my life," said Breed.
This is one of those issues where I wouldn't mind going to jail for the first time in my life," said Breed.
"I would be willing to go to jail to defend Oakland's sanctuary status abd the policies that reflect the values of our community," said Schaaf.
Schaaf said that since the San Francisco Chronicle quoted a source stating ICE, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was planning a major raid in Northern California.
That source also said ICE wants to show that federal immigration police will be enforced in California, a sanctuary state.
Schaaf has a message to residents who may be fearful.
"You don't have to open the door if a federal agent knocks. Keep the door closed," said Schaaf.
The Oakland City Council voted Tuesday to bar any city agency from cooperating in any ICE enforcement actions.
ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan issued a statement following the vote.
"Those who put politics and their political ambitions over public safety and officer safety should talk to the victims of crimes perpetrated by criminal aliens to put the decisions they make into perspective."
In Sacramento California Attorney General Xavier Becerra cautioned employees not to voluntarily give ICE any information about their employees.
"We've never challenged the authority of the federal government to enforce immigration laws....
"We do challenge the federal government's ability to force California to do federal immigration enforcement for it," said Becerra.
"The impact of just the threat of an ice raid is having horrible traumatic impacts on our families and especially our young people," said Schaaf.