The mayor of a California city has said she is prepared to go to jail after its council voted to end cooperation with federal immigration agents and protect its status as a so-called sanctuary city.
Speaking after Oakland City Council voted unanimously to end its cooperation following reports federal immigration officers were planing to launch massive raids across the Bay Area, Mayor Libby Schaaf said: “Let me be clear, that cities that have sanctuary status are engaging in their legal right.”
ABC News said, when asked if she was prepared to go to jail over the issue, she responded: “Yes”.
Ms Schaaf called President Donald Trump the “bully in chief” and claimed his immigration policies intimidated vulnerable communities.
“It is no surprise that the bully in chief is continuing to try to intimidate our most vulnerable residents,” she said. “We’re very clear that our values are to protect all of our residents regardless of where we come from. We want to protect families, not tear them apart.”
Ms Schaaf’s remarks came during a week when rumours were rife that agents planned to launch raids because California has become a Sanctuary State and several communities have adopted Sanctuary City policies.
“We are exercising our legal right to be a Sanctuary City and to protect our residents,” Ms Schaaf said.
“The fact that the federal government is suggesting that it is actively retaliating against jurisdictions that are exercising their right to have sanctuary policies – that is what is illegal.”
