TUCSON, Ariz. — Raids targeting undocumented immigrants with final deportation orders could be carried out as soon as this weekend.
CNN is reporting Homeland Security has been tracking family cases in immigration in court in the major cities. They are Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York and San Francisco.
None of the cities are in Arizona, but Tucson has a long history in providing sanctuary. Since the 1980's, Southside Presbyterian Church has opened its doors to those who face deportation.
"They will be removed as fast as they come in." Those were the words President Trump used on Twitter earlier this week, revealing plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
Now, a senior immigration official has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is set to launch those raids beginning Sunday.
Margo Cowan, a Pima County public defender and manager of a community immigration clinic, says the latest announcement of raids is simply intended to create fear.
"The purpose of this kind of activity in our community, is to terrorize and to scare people," Cowan said. "And drive people further underground."
More than 1 million people living in the U.S. have final deportation orders.
2,000 people are being targeted in the ten major cities beginning this Sunday.
An ICE spokesperson provided the following statement:
"Due to law-enforcement sensitivities and the safety and security of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, the agency will not offer specific details related to enforcement operations."
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