US ICE aimed to nab 8,400 in 2017, documents show
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) planned to launch a massive operation in 2017 to round up 8,400 undocumented immigrants, documents show.
The figure was obtained in documents released through a Freedom of Information Act request by advocacy groups Mijente, Just Futures Law and Detention Watch Network, The Hill reported Wednesday.
“Operation Mega,” was planned for September 17-21, 2017 in all 24 of ICE’s field offices.
“Here we go!!!!” one staffer wrote in emails about the operation while another signed off an email by saying, “Happy hunting and target building!”
After the operation’s title was changed to Operation Epic – probably over its similarity to US President Donald Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) – one staffer wrote “They sent out a broadcast and changed the name to Epic!! It was Trumppped!!”
ICE said in a statement that it "does not condone the use of offensive or politically charged language in reference to agency enforcement operations."
"Any employee found to have acted in a manner that negatively portrays the agency; impedes the ability of ICE to execute its mission; or embarrasses the agency; will be held accountable and may be subject to disciplinary measures and corrective actions," ICE spokesman Matthew Bourke said. "ICE is committed to using its authorities to enforce US immigration laws, and agency officers are expected to conduct enforcement humanely, respectfully and with professionalism."
Bourke further undermined Mijente’s finding about arrest quotas in ICE, stressing that the "agency efforts are not based on competition or meeting a specific threshold."
“While the documents detail information about raids planned back in 2017, we noted the ‘rinse-and-repeat’ nature of ICE’s operations and what we can expect, as Trump reignites the threat of more raids to come after July 4th,” said Mijiente Senior Campaign Organizer Jacinta González in a statement.
Federal officials denied in 2017 that there was a plan for massive raids in the country.
"There is currently no coordinated nationwide operation planned at this time," ICE said in 2017 "The priority in the affected areas should remain focused on life-saving and life-sustaining activities."
The Republican president has vowed to crack down on immigration but has failed to get his complete agenda through so far.
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