U.S. deportation raids target Central American families: lawyers

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Politics | Fri May 27, 2016 6:29pm EDT

U.S. deportation raids target Central American families: lawyers

WASHINGTON | BY JULIA EDWARDS

U.S. immigration officials have kicked off a new round of raids intended to deport hundreds of Central American mothers and children who have entered the country illegally, according to a legal group that works with the immigrants.

Immigration enforcement officers as of Friday had arrested about 40 women and children encompassing at least 18 Central American family groups in Texas, North Carolina, South Dakota and possibly other states, said Laura Lichter, an immigration lawyer and a former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Reuters reported on May 12 that the raids were planned for May and June and likely would be the largest deportation sweep targeting immigrant families by the administration of President Barack Obama this year after similar raids in which 121 people were arrested over two days in January.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokeswoman Jennifer Elzea declined to confirm that the new round of raids had begun but defended the administration's deportation operations as a whole.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-deportation-idUSKCN0YI2LO

[MisterP]

1. let's try more arms and money to the military and police