‘Don’t take the bait’: Oakland leaders urge calm as possible Trump immigration crackdown looms over region

Lower than an hour after President Donald Trump referred to as off a federal “surge” in San Francisco, Oakland leaders held a information convention to calm residents and allow them to know officers are ready if the federal government nonetheless continues operations within the East Bay.

However precisely what a federal wave in Oakland or different cities would seem like is anybody’s guess.

Mayor Barbara Lee, talking to a packed assembly room at Oakland Metropolis Corridor, acknowledged that she has “no info that we may give you right this moment” in regards to the federal authorities’s plans.

“The federal authorities has clearly escalated its rhetoric and its enforcement posture within the Bay Space,” Lee mentioned. “We all know there are Border Patrol brokers stationed on Coast Guard Island, however let me be clear: we’re totally ready.”

Trump posted on Reality Social that he determined to name off a deliberate immigration enforcement marketing campaign in San Francisco this Saturday after a telephone name final night time with Mayor Daniel Lurie, who expressed concern that it might damage the town’s financial restoration. In a message on X, Governor Gavin Newsom wrote that “Trump has lastly, for as soon as, listened to purpose” and touted the Bay Space as “a shining instance of what makes California so particular, and any try and erode our progress would harm the work we have now carried out.” Newsom added that his workplace will proceed to watch the state of affairs.

Nonetheless, deployments within the East Bay are nonetheless attainable; Trump’s feedback about calling off a “surge” operation targeted solely on San Francisco.

With these pursuits in thoughts, Lee and different elected officers, union representatives and religion leaders inspired residents to take care of one another and peacefully protest the federal government. However officers additionally warned individuals to not “take the bait” by committing acts of violence in opposition to federal officers.

“We all know they’re harassing Oakland, and that is why San Francisco is all of the sudden off the desk,” mentioned Alameda County District Legal professional Ursula Jones Dickson. “So I am not going to be silent about what we all know is coming. We all know their expectation is that Oakland goes to do one thing that can make us an instance.”

Earlier this morning, lots of of protesters gathered close to a street resulting in an island within the Oakland estuary that homes Coast Guard amenities, the place CBP brokers have been reportedly anticipated to reach. Protesters who tried to dam the street have been compelled to disperse after officers deployed two booms to permit a number of CBP automobiles to get by means of.

Oakland and Alameda County legislation enforcement officers don’t cooperate with immigration authorities in civil issues. However there are limits to this non-cooperation. Dickson famous that her workplace can not stand in the way in which of a authorized order. Assistant Oakland Police Chief James Beere mentioned his division doesn’t have the authority to withstand federal authorities or forestall them from conducting immigration operations in Oakland.

“I wish to make it clear that if somebody tries to enter your private home or detain you, and she or he isn’t in uniform or can not present identification, it’s best to name 911 instantly,” Beere mentioned.

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon mentioned her workplace will shield neighborhood members, together with youngsters, households, officers and protesters.

Oakland and the Bay Space will “collectively adhere to our perception that terror and the violence the Trump administration is inflicting on this neighborhood is undesirable, unwarranted and unlawful,” Simon mentioned.

A number of officers summarized efforts they’re enterprise to strengthen the area’s defenses in opposition to federal incursions. Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas shared that the Board of Supervisors has invested thousands and thousands of {dollars} in immigration authorized protection providers. The board additionally lately accredited the creation of an workplace targeted on immigrant affairs to coordinate providers throughout the county.

Lourdes Martinez, lead lawyer within the immigrant rights follow at Centro Legal De La Razamentioned ICE is already working in Alameda County. Her group, which runs a professional bono authorized protection program for immigrants, expects an escalation just like what has been seen in Washington DC, Chicago and Portland.

“When federal legislation enforcement has been deployed, it has actually strengthened ICE and their potential to make extra arrests,” Martinez mentioned. “So that is what we’re setting ourselves up for.”

The county additionally revived a speedy response hotline this yr, which residents can use to report stories of ICE exercise. Martinez inspired individuals to name the road as an alternative of spreading unverified stories on different platforms. She additionally shared sensible recommendation for immigrants, together with that individuals ought to memorize essential telephone numbers and gather and preserve paperwork akin to passports and medical data protected. She additionally suggested individuals to make use of PIN codes on their telephones and think about turning off fingerprint or facial recognition on their cellphones.

“Keep in mind, we dwell in troublesome occasions the place ICE is allowed to racially profile,” she mentioned.

Pastor Mike McBride suggested younger individuals to “chorus from getting concerned” in interactions with federal brokers, and to hold identification and obtain coaching on figuring out their rights.

“We’ll survive this depravity in excessive locations, Oakland will counter hate, lies and disinformation with love for all individuals,” McBride mentioned. “Reality, justice, peace and pleasure. And we implore Congress to launch the Epstein recordsdata.”