Should politicians be held accountable and face a fine or worse for alerting illegal immigrants of raids in their area? What about instructing them on how to avoid ICE officers? On one hand, some consider such broadcasted warnings to be a form of obstruction of justice since it hinders the authorities’ ability to do their jobs. Others, however, claim helping the undocumented to keep from being caught up in an immigrant swoop is the moral thing to do and that providing them with information and tactics is encouraged. But to ICE officials – and many American citizens – this interference is worsening matters and making it more difficult to get the dangerous illegal immigrants out of our neighborhoods.
Acting ICE Director Matthew Albence said that Congress members providing advice likely prevented many illegals from being apprehended during the most recent roundup. One such member, none other than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), tweeted out her warning.
Warning: The Trump admin is expected to begin ICE raids across the country TOMORROW, targeting people for round up.
NOW is the time for us to come together:
– Check in w/ your neighbors
– Share “Know Your Rights” info
– If you see ICE, report to @UNITEDWEDREAM 1-844-363-1423 https://t.co/UgWK0Km3sl— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 22, 2019
Part of the problem is that we use frightening terms like “raid,” which conjures up horrific images of doors being broken down as a swarm of heavily armed officers rush into a home while a family sits innocently at the dinner table. This leads to unnecessary fear and panic and instills even more distrust against safety officers.
Albence said:
“Calling these raids does a disservice to everybody involved in this process. A raid brings up all sorts of emotions, conjured images of indiscriminate enforcement action.”
A-O-C didn’t just stop with dire warnings of raids; she also instructed the undocumented on how to avoid ICE.
“If your home can be a safe space or haven for others, let your neighbors and community know – even if it’s just to relax in the stress of this time. Plan, prepare, + protect our neighbors.”
So here we have one of our congresswomen, someone who is supposed to be upholding our nation’s laws, telling illegal criminals and aliens how to avoid getting caught. It is a trend that is unfortunately growing. Remember Oakland, CA, Mayor Libby Schaaf, who warned the undocumented in her area of an ICE raid? Then-Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan said, “What she did is no better than a gang lookout yelling ‘police’ when a police cruiser comes in the neighborhood, except she did it to a whole community.” Schaff’s announcement resulted in hundreds of dangerous illegals being forewarned enough to escape. “There’s over 800 significant public safety threat criminals … that we are unable to locate because of that warning, so that community’s a lot less safe than it would’ve been,” Homan said.
That particular sweep netted 150 criminal illegal immigrants, of whom about half had convictions for assault and battery, weapons charges, and crimes against children. Armando Nuñez-Salgado was one of the people caught in the ICE detail, and this dangerous criminal has more than 18 years of offenses.
What the left fails to comprehend, or perhaps just completely ignore in favor of getting votes, is that the immigration search and apprehension is designed to capture illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds. The agency isn’t actively seeking families who have come here illegally, but are otherwise not breaking the law. However, sounding the alarm and broadcasting ICE “raids” usually ends up causing panic and many of the non-targeted undocumented get caught in the net.
Is what A-O-C, Schaaf, and other outspoken advocates for immigrant rights doing a form of aiding and abetting or obstruction of justice, as many seem to think? Or are they demonstrating their right to free speech? Should politicians be judged on a stricter scale, especially when it comes to matter of security and safety?
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To read more from Kelli Ballard, visit her author page. At Liberty Nation, we love to hear from our readers. Comment and join the conversation!
