Acting ICE director Thomas Homan harshly criticized Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf Wednesday for warning illegal immigrants that the agency was planning a detention operation.
“What she did is no better than a gang lookout yelling police when a police cruiser comes to the neighborhood except she did it to entire community of the this is beyond the pale,” Homan declared in a Fox News interview. “This is a whole new low to intentionally warn criminals that law enforcement is coming. I can’t believe it happened.”
“She intentionally put law enforcement officers at risk. Being a law enforcement officer is dangerous enough. But to give criminals a head’s up we’re coming next 24 hours, increases the risk.” He continued that “there are 800 we were unable to locate because of that warning. That community is a lot less safe than it would have been.”
Schaaf warned Bay Area residents Sunday night that she had been tipped off to a forthcoming immigration enforcement raid targeting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. The mayor is unapologetic telling the Washington Post Tuesday “I think it’s my responsibility as a person in power and privilege to share the information I have access to, to make sure people know what their rights are.”