Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf sparked criticism over the weekend when she issued an urgent message to constituents warning them of possible ICE raids in the city that never materialized. Her address not only angered immigration hardliners who accused her of obstruction of justice, but also some immigration advocates who said it unnecessarily stoked public fear.
"Broad pronouncements about raids in a city and across a region generate an enormous amount of fear and…generally don't help families understand exactly what they need to do to protect themselves and their loves ones," said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. He acknowledged, however, that Schaaf -- like all city leaders -- has been placed in a difficult position in light of the federal government’s crackdown on immigration.
Asked what he would do in a similar situation, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti balked.
“It’s a hypothetical. I haven't gotten that. To me, it's very important to know the particulars of situations. And I'm not going to give a heads-up to people who are the traffickers of women that there is going to be a raid on them. It depends on the situation."
Some people defended Schaaf’s move. The mayor herself insisted her actions were legal.
“This is a difficult decision I made,” she said. “I recognize that it’s controversial, but I believe it was the right thing to do.”
But some experts fear the federal government could limit the sharing of pertinent information as a result. Her actions “put agents in danger,” one former federal prosecutor said. “You put the police in danger and you put neighbors in danger.”
UPDATE: ICE confirms 150-plus arrests in California sweep, slams Schaaf's early warning
Image Credit: Flickr User jimratliff, https://flic.kr/p/asp7ZW