Share and Follow
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan told reporters Thursday morning to expect to see operations ramp up across the country after Labor Day, including in Portland.
“You’re going to see a ramp up of operations in New York, you’re going to see a ramp up of operations continue in LA, and you know, Portland, Seattle,” Homan said.
In a press conference, the White House border czar said that operations will increase in all sanctuary cities that refuse to work with ICE. Homan said in Texas and Florida, which are not sanctuary states, sheriffs are working with ICE to hold people and let them know if someone is being released.
“We’re going to take the assets we have and move them to problem areas like sanctuary cities where we know for a fact they’re releasing public safety threat illegal aliens to the streets every day. That’s where we need to send the majority of the resources,” he said.
More than 70% of those currently detained by ICE have no criminal conviction, according to an Aug. 10 analysis by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
“I was in San Diego and Portland in the last week meeting with the men and women of ICE to understand the hate that’s being pushed against them and letting them know the President has their six. I have their six,” Homan said.
It’s moments like this that have Oregon’s immigrant community on edge.
“They have to respect us as human beings, as people, as contributors to our society,” said Ana Muñoz from the Latino Action Network.
Muñoz came to Oregon as a child, became a citizen in the ’90s, and now works to help others prepare for the unexpected.
The Latino Action Network, along with the Oregon Law Center, created family preparedness packets with legal templates, childcare plans, and emergency resources.
“We cannot be living under fear, we cannot be hiding in the shadows because our president is threatening us in many different ways,” Muñoz said.
The president says ICE is targeting criminals, but Muñoz argues even minor offenses like traffic citations are leading to detentions, and that several communities feel targeted.
“A lot of people are trying to do things right. They’ve done the paperwork. They’ve paid the fees. They’re waiting in line… and they’re still getting detained and that’s really unfair,” she said.
As KOIN 6 News previously reported, Homan was in Portland on Aug. 21 to meet with ICE personnel. After the visit, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary status and said city employees, including police, would not assist federal immigration enforcement efforts.