Press Release – California immigrant rights advocates ‌condemn militarized escalation against sanctuary cities

From‌ ‌the‌ ‌“Power,‌ ‌Not‌ ‌Panic”‌ ‌Emergency‌ ‌Action‌ ‌Committee‌ ‌ ‌
Community organizations stand ready with 24 hour legal assistance hotlines to monitor and defeat feds’ intimidation tactics and abuse of power.

The following is a statement from the “Power,‌ ‌Not‌ ‌Panic”‌ ‌Emergency‌ ‌Action‌ ‌Committee‌ including: Pangea Legal Services, Immigrant Defense Advocates, San Francisco Rapid Response Network, North Bay Rapid Response Network, SIREN, Freedom for Immigrants, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, Long Beach Community Defense Network, Indivisible SF, Pajaro Valley Rapid Response, Rapid Response Network of Monterey County, Immigration Task Force – Monterey, Dolores Street Community Services, San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network, Marin Rapid Response Network, San Diego Rapid Response Network, The Rapid Response Network in Santa Clara County, The Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP), Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Faith in Action, NorCal Resist, Alianza Sacramento, Campaign for Immigrant Detention Reform, Sacramento ACT, Sacramento Rapid Response Network, San Mateo Rapid Response Network , California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance (CIYA)

In the face of militarized aggression and an ugly campaign of intimidation from the Trump administration’s deportation force, we call upon all Californians to respond with power, not panic. We have defeated these intimidation tactics before, and we are ready to do so again. 

The announcement by this administration that it would be sending BORTAC agents to sanctuary cities is a calculated maneuver to promote fear and intimidate  cities and states that are upholding our values of common humanity and equal justice for everyone, including immigrants. According to ICE’s own words to the New York Times, these tactics are designed to be a “show of force” against our communities. 

California has been the target of multiple high-profile  ICE raids and operations, and each time our communities have stood together and prevented mass raids from taking place, while exposing ICE’s racial profiling, violation of due process, and deceitful behavior.

California is home to a robust infrastructure of attorneys, legal observers, faith and community leaders, and dozens of rapid response hotlines that continue to monitor ICE activity, and ensure that anyone who encounters ICE has access to legal assistance and support. 

Sending militarized units threatens the social fabric of our communities and separates families. We will continue to uphold our shared values of compassion, inclusion, human rights and love to protect our communities.