[ad_1]
A sabotaged White House proposal to release immigrant detainees in San Francisco and other sanctuary cities sparked a violent reaction Friday by Democrats, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. whose office has described this idea as "odious".
The Washington Post first reported that the White House had proposed sending detainees to sanctuary towns, particularly in Pelosi District, twice in the past six months. The proposal had been introduced for the first time in November, when a large caravan of Central American migrants was heading to the southern border. The idea was again examined in February, in the middle of the standoff with Congress in front of a border wall.
WHITE HOUSE OFFERS TO RELEASE IMMIGRANT DETAILS IN "CITIES OF THE SANCTUARY" TO TARGE POLITICAL CHALLENGES: REPORT
"The sheer scale of the cynicism and cruelty of this administration can not be overstated," Pelosi spokeswoman Ashley Etienne said in a statement on Friday. "Using human beings – including small children – as pawns in their twisted game to perpetuate fear and demonize immigrants is odious, and in some cases, criminal."
She added, "The American people have categorically rejected the anti-immigrant toxic policies of this administration, and the Democrats will continue to advance the immigration policies that protect us and respect our values."
Officials pointed out that the plan had never gone anywhere.
A source close to the talks also told Fox News that Democrats who advocate clemency for illegal immigrants should work with the administration to find ways to transport those who need to be released, including in their states and territories. districts.
The proposal was apparently rejected every time immigration agencies presented it.
On 16 November, an e-mail from the White House to officials of several agencies asked whether migrants could be arrested and transported by bus to "small or medium-sized sanctuary towns" and to the other. other strongholds Democrats. The Pelosi neighborhood in San Francisco was considered one of the targeted areas, according to The Post.
TRUMP DOES NOT SAY PLANNING TO REVERSE FAMILY SEPARATIONS, BLADES OBAMA AT THE TOP
The proposal aimed to relieve overcrowded detention centers, the White House told Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The same report indicated that "the attempt at political retaliation had sounded the alarm within the CIE". An ICE official responded, stressing that there were budget and accountability issues, but also said, "There are also public relations risks."
The informed source of the discussions, however, argued that the White House did not consider this a political reward.
"It was only a suggestion that was made and rejected, which ended any further discussion," the White House told The Post.
In a statement, the ICE's deputy director, Matt Albence, also reacted by saying that he had not been under any pressure from the White House, although a such a proposal has been put forward.
"As an acting deputy minister, no one in the White House has pressed this issue. I was asked my opinion, I provided it and my advice was taken into account. The e-mail exchange is clear and suggests that inappropriate pressure is inaccurate, "he said.
President Trump has regularly criticized sanctuary cities, areas in which local authorities refuse to cooperate with federal immigration agencies. Cities are usually run by Democrats.
The president was also struck this week by questions about the previous policy of the administration on separation of families at the border. Trump said they did not intend to revive the policy, while new speculation about the return of the practice could take place if the staff of the Department of Homeland Security was upset, including the resignation of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
Kevin McAleenan, who was a CBP Commissioner, replaces her as Acting Secretary.
Nielsen's resignation comes amid an influx of migrants to the US-Mexico border. Nielsen would have been frustrated by the difficulty of using other ministries to deal with the growing number of families crossing the border. Administration officials, however, told Fox News that McAleenan best met Trump's demands of being the "strongest policeman" on the border, and that Nielsen was seen as resisting some of the immigration measures advocated by the president and his collaborators.
On Tuesday, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Claire Grady also resigned.
And Wednesday, Nielsen announced that his acting director, Ron Vitiello, would be leaving by the end of the week.
Kristin Brown, Fox News, Matt Leach and Associated Press contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link