The mayors of "sanctuary cities" have questioned Trump's proposal to move without papers: "They are people, not pawns"

The White House had already been criticized after officials revealed that the idea had been considered last February and that the wave of refusal was increasing. Trump admitted Friday that he had "seriously" studied this possibility because the Democrats did not want to change the country's "dangerous" immigration laws.

The attacks are targeted in particular at California, a state that has fought against Trump 's immigration policies and where reactions did not wait until Friday.

Okland mayor, Libby Schaaf, targeted by Trump for warning his community against a raid by immigration authorities, called "Scandalous abuse of power to use human beings to solve" political affairs.

Los Angeles Mayor Erick Garcetti joined the criticism and told the President that Immigrants "are people, not pawns."

San José Mayor Sam Liccardo chose to welcome any family willing to endure run "great risks to be part of our great country".

Liccardo faces attacks on the shrine town after Carlos Eduardo Arévalo Carranza was charged with murder last month. Salvadoran undocumented migrants, who had been solicited nine times by agents of the Immigration and Citizenship Control Service (ICE), were favored by measures prohibiting collaboration between local authorities and agents. of immigration.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio joined the criticism and said in a statement that Trump has once again shown that the "only constant" in his immigration policy is "cruelty". "The city of New York will always be the definitive city of immigrants: the President's empty threats will not change anything," he said.

Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, badured that what Trump does not understand that the United States itself is a "sanctuary country". "The country's small, medium and large cities suddenly and rapidly identify as sanctuary cities because of the abandonment of the values, ideals and cultural destiny of Americans under the watchful eye of the president. Trump, "he said in a statement.

In this sense, Emanuel declared that his city was a "welcoming city" and that immigrants of all religions, nationalities and ethnicities helped to make it the "most American city in the United States".

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney agreed with Liccardo that his city would be ready to welcome these immigrants as I have for decades.

The leaders of the big cities, small communities that absorb a lot of these immigrants, like the city of Maywood in Los Angeles County, have joined the criticism.

Mayor Eddie De La Riva, insured EFE that this measure would not punish cities and recalled that the country was built by foreigners seeking a new life in the United States.

The Trump Plan, according to The Washington Postwould consist of transport immigrants in the custody of immigration agencies to cities or constituencies sanctuaries, They choose to protect undocumented migrants and refuse to inform the federal authorities of the legal status of those arrested.

This idea was studied in November and February, and the White House argued before the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) that its The intention was both to alleviate the problem of lack of space in detention centers and to send a message to the Democrats.

Precisely, the Democratic Party, in the mouth of the director of Hispanic media of its national committee, Enrique Gutiérrez, said in a statement that the president had again demonstrated how "extreme" he was ready to arrive with his anti-corruption program. immigrant.

"The mere fact that they are considering this proposal for political retribution is appalling and shows how dangerous this administration is," he said.

Gutiérrez's statements coincide with the reaction of the congressionally-formed United States Hispanic Caucus (HRC), which has lamented the "cruelty" that Trump is showing with these approaches.

In his view, "vulnerable" immigrants arriving at the border should not be used as "political pawns to fan fear and division" in the country.