Letter to Thomas D. Homan, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Deportation Threats

Letter

Dear Acting Director Homan:

We, the undersigned members of the California delegation, request a meeting with you to discuss your comments on California Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act. In your October 6, 2017 statement, you claim that "ICE will have no choice but to conduct at-large arrests in local neighborhoods and at worksites." You also state that "ICE will also likely have to detain individuals arrested in California in detention facilities outside of the state, far from any family they may have in California."

As members of communities that you have targeted, we are concerned by your statements and this administration's repeated attempts to threaten California for passing laws that would help Californians. Your statement is reprehensible and your department's change in policy will wreak terror in our communities.

SB54 does not "shield removable aliens from immigration enforcement" or create "another magnet for more illegal immigration, at the expense of safety and security of the very people it purports to protect." In fact, SB54 allows state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration agents if a detained individual has been convicted of one or more offenses listed under the 2013 California Trust Act.

We believe ICE should use its limited resources to target criminals instead of parents and hardworking individuals. California law enforcement should not be deputized as immigration agents to incite fear in our communities and undermine public safety. We request that you meet with us to clarify your statements and restore the trust in public safety that is necessary for our communities.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Gomez
Member of Congress
CA-34

Zoe Lofgren
Member of Congress
CA-19

Salud Carbajal
Member of Congress
CA-24

Tony Cardenas
Member of Congress
CA-29

Alan S. Lowenthal
Member of Congress
CA-47

Scott Peters
Member of Congress
CA-52

Linda T. Sanchez
Member of Congress
CA-38

Grace F. Napolitano
Member of Congress
CA-32

Juan Vargas
Member of Congress
CA-51

Mark Takano
Member of Congress
CA-41

Mark DeSaulnier
Member of Congress
CA-11

Nanette Diaz Barragan
Member of Congress
CA-44

Ted W. Lieu
Member of Congress
CA-33

Pete Aguilar
Member of Congress
CA-31

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