Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee released a press release today that she has been told by Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez that “Border Patrol operations are cancelled for the greater Bay Area — which includes Oakland — at this time.”
Sgt. Roberto Morales, a spokesperson for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that Sanchez has been told the federal government’s planned surge operation won’t happen — at this time — in Oakland and the rest of the Bay Area.
Not much is known about what Customs and Border Protection was planning, but the Trump administration had ordered some kind of “surge” operation targeting San Francisco and possibly other parts of the Bay Area, reportedly to begin on Saturday. On Thursday, we saw a caravan of CBP agents entering Coast Guard Island, a base located in the Oakland Estuary. The Coast Guard told us on Wednesday that the facilities would be providing support to CBP for an “operation” that was underway.
Protesters gathered at the entrance to Coast Guard Island throughout the day on Thursday, holding a march, a picket, and a faith vigil opposing any immigration crackdown.
Trump and the Department of Homeland Security, which governs CBP, have yet to clarify publicly what their intentions are for Berkeley and other East Bay cities.
Sanchez issued a video statement earlier today, saying her office does not coordinate with federal agents to enforce immigration laws. But she added, “it’s important to remember that federal agencies like ICE carry out their own law enforcement operations. The sheriff’s office cannot interfere with those actions.”
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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