HPD Chief Acevedo, Sheriff Gonzalez Oppose Planned ICE Raids

HOUSTON, TX — Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said they oppose plans for federal authorities to conduct coordinated roundups of undocumented immigrants in 10 U.S. cities, including Houston.

Gonzalez said in a statement that these planned raids were a waste of valuable resources on people who "do not represent a threat."

"The focus should always be on clear and immediate safety threats. Not others who are not threats," Gonzalez said. "Diverting valuable law enforcement resources away from public safety threats would drive undocumented families further into the shadows and damage our community safety. It silences witnesses and victims, and [would] further worsen the challenges law enforcement officials face."

Gonzalez added that the ‬Harris County Sheriff’s Office would not be taking part in these raids.

Acevedo, who is himself the son of Cuban immigrants, also came out in opposition to these planned raids. Acevedo said during a CNN interview that there is a sense of fear in the immigrant community in Houston of what these raids could do to families.

"I’ve had children come up to me at forums, saying, 'I'm afraid to go to school. I'm afraid to leave the house. I'm afraid to go to the house and find my parents gone,'" Acevedo said.

The raids were supposed to happen before July 4, but those were halted by the Trump Administration. Earlier this week President Donald Trump announced the raids would happen July 14.

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