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Trump administration officials on Sunday defended the need to organize planned immigration raids in 10 cities nationwide, while remaining attentive to the details of this widespread action.
Ken Cuccinelli, acting director of US Customs and Immigration, said Sunday in CNN's "State of the Union" that he would not divulge any details. operational raids of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but also chose not to respond to be separated.
"In the same way that I was not willing to talk about operational details, it would be an operational detail that I will not comment on," he said. "One million people, including families, have been the subject of a removal order, and the priority remains for ICE to address the criminals."
Cuccinelli pointed out that the agency gave priority to violent criminals, as opposed to the undocumented immigrant population in general.
On Sunday morning, it was still unclear whether planned raids were underway in the targeted cities, but New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted On Saturday, his office received information that "ICE enforcement actions would have been unsuccessful" in the Harlem and Sunset Park neighborhoods. Volunteers also distributed leaflets in these neighborhoods to explain the rights of immigrants.
ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the raids.
Interim Director of ICE, Matt Albence, told Fox News Sunday that he would not discuss the details of the raids, but that the agency is taking targeted enforcement action against specific individuals who have spent their day in an immigration court and who have been referred to court ". immigration judge. "
Asked about "Fox News Sunday" to know the number of people targeted by ICE, White House advisor Kellyanne Conway also said she "would not discuss operational details" and added that "I'm not sure what's going on." ICE "does it every day.
Meanwhile, community organizations began preparing for the planned raids. In Houston, many churches, including several African American, have opened their doors to anyone wishing to take refuge. The churches also collected supplies to deliver to families who feared leaving their homes for shopping or other necessities.
R.C. Stearns, Pastor of the Apostolic Ministries of Living Water International, said Saturday that he and other church leaders were offering this refuge because "this is what Christ would do".
Stearns said he and others were praying for the president to change his mind.
In the weeks since Trump announced planned raids and then delayed them, Congress passed a $ 4.6 billion emergency spending bill to provide resources and support to the influx of asylum seekers on the southern border.
"We are in the midst of food, water, baby supplies, household utensils and a place of refuge," said Sheila Jackson representative Lee, Texas, at the time. a press conference announcing the preparations of the churches. "We are standing with pastors who are committed to opening their doors if there are people who are in danger where they are."
"This massive deportation order is used as a political toy," she said.
Daniella Silva contributed.
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