Homeland Security launched a series of raids over the weekend to counter an explosion of new border crossings by illegals sneaking into the United States from Mexico.
The raids — which occurred in Georgia, Texas and North Carolina — targeted adults and their children who illegally entered the U.S. from Central America after May 1, 2014, the period that signifies the "high point" of illicit crossings of the nation’s southwestern border,
The Washington Times reports.
The action was ordered by an immigration judge after the families “exhausted appropriate legal remedies,” Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement.
Immigrant-rights activists quickly blasted the weekend raids.
"I know there are many who loudly condemn our enforcement efforts as far too harsh, while there will be others who say these actions don’t go far enough. I also recognize the reality of the pain that deportations do in fact cause," Johnson responded.
"But, we must enforce the law consistent with our priorities. At all times, we endeavor to do this consistent with American values, and basic principles of decency, fairness, and humanity."
He said the agency took "precautions" during the raids, including using female agents and medical workers, to make the operation go smoothly and lessen the trauma for those detained.
Families collared in the raids were sent to detention centers in South Texas, Mohammad Abdollahi, an activist with the San Antonio nonprofit Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, told
mysanantonio.com.
Abdollahi said his group had also received reports of raids in San Antonio, New Jersey, Virginia, and Atlanta. The possibility of such raids was first leaked last month, just two days before Christmas with a report in
The Washington Post. The paper cited "people familiar with the operation.”
The story sent shockwaves through many immigrant communities. The weekend raids were the first large-scale operations to deport families who have fled violence in Central America, those familiar with the plan told the Post.
The newspaper said more than 100,000 families have crossed the southwest border since last year. Johnson said more raids may be conducted.
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