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Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf may have just landed herself in hot water. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating whether to bring charges against the Democratic mayor for warning residents of an upcoming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid.
“I believe it is my duty and moral obligation as mayor to give those families fair warning when that threat appears imminent,” Schaaf said in defense of the tweet announcement of the raid.
Although California is a sanctuary state, which gives them the “right” not to assist or aid the federal government in immigration enforcement, what the mayor did may be considered obstruction of justice. Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan said they are investigating whether she can be charged with breaking any laws. He told Fox News:
“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... 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."
The raid on Sunday resulted in the apprehension of 150 criminal illegal immigrants. “Roughly half of those arrested by deportation officers have convictions for assault and battery, crimes against children, weapons charges and DUI, according to the agency,” Fox News reported. One of those arrested was repeat felon Armando Nuñez-Salgado, 38, of Mexico. This dangerous criminal has more than 18 years of offenses.
James Schwab, of the San Francisco bureau ICE division, said Nuñez-Salgado has outstanding convictions in California with more than 15 years in sentencing, and “has been previously removed by ICE on four prior occasions and is a member of the Sureño street gang.”
Homan, who has been outspoken and passionate against California’s refusal to aid ICE in its efforts, said:
“The Oakland mayor’s decision to publicize her suspicions about ICE operations further increased that risk for my officers and alerted criminal aliens — making clear that this reckless decision was based on her political agenda. Unlike the politicians who attempt to undermine ICE’s critical mission, our officers will continue to fulfill their sworn duty to protect public safety.”
Schaaf followed up with a tweet to defend her actions: “I do not regret sharing this information. It is Oakland’s legal right to be a sanctuary city and we have not broken any laws. We believe our community is safer when families stay together.”
Responses to her tweet varied. Some supported her decision and claimed being here illegally is not a criminal offense, while others lambasted her for obstructing justice.
https://twitter.com/TrumpsWirl/status/968714495689482240
If more than half of those apprehended were dangerous felons, committing crimes against children, how many more did the oh-so-noble mayor help escape? Schaaf claims she doesn’t want to break up families. Okay, but does that mean she does not want to send murderers and rapists to jail? After all, that is breaking up families too. Even bad guys have families.
Let’s face it. If you are on ICE’s radar and a raid is planned to apprehend you, then you have probably done much worse than come here illegally. Schaaf is only looking to further her agenda – it’s coming up on reelection, you know.
