Mayors of major US cities say they will not cooperate with planned ICE raids of illegal aliens

Several leaders of major U.S. cities have reacted to reports of planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, and they say they will not cooperate with the federal action.

Mark Morgan, the acting director of ICE, told reporters that the raids would target families that have received a deportation order.

"If you're here illegally, then you should be removed," he said. "And in this case, that includes families."

Some mayors are responding to the report with anger and intransigence.

Chicago

Chicago's Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that she had cancelled access to ICE of their police databases, and sounded off to the department about her opposition to the raids.

"I have also personally spoken with ICE leadership in Chicago and voiced my strong objection to any such raids," Lightfoot said.

"Further, I reiterated that CPD will not cooperate with or facilitate any ICE enforcement actions," she added.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti made no distinction between legal and illegal immigrants in his statement that rejected the planned raids.

"Los Angeles will always stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters, and our law enforcement officers will never participate in these actions," Garcetti said. "No Angeleno should ever have to fear being snatched from their home or separated from their loved ones — and we are doing everything we can to provide immigrant families with the information and support they need."

Houston

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner released a statement citing the "rich cultural contributions" of immigrants to his city.

"The city does not try to do ICE's job, nor does it try to impede ICE," he added.

Turner, however, noted that ICE had not notified Houston of increased ICE activity in the same way they had other cities.

"It doesn't what your ethnicity is, your religion, whether your documented or undocumented," Turner added. "If you're in the city of Houston, I'm your mayor."

ICE is expected to target 2,000 families in ten cities including Miami, Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago.

The president tweeted on Monday about the raids.

"Next week ICE will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States," he said.

Here's a report about the impending ICE raids:

ICE set to begin immigration raids in 10 citieswww.youtube.com