By admin 
California U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla are demanding a federal investigation into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s recent attempt to inspect a Sacramento immigration law firm without a warrant.
Read more California senators demand investigation of ICE trying to enter Sacramento law firm
In a letter sent Thursday afternoon to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE, the two senators request that the agencies investigate the federal agents’ actions and provide specifics on the purpose of the operation. The letter, first shared with The Sacramento Bee, called DHS’ description of the incident thus far “troubling and unsatisfactory.”
“ICE’s conduct here is another example of a broader, systemic effort by this administration to intimidate immigrant communities and the attorneys and legal representatives who represent them,” the senators said in their letter. “We refuse to tolerate these efforts to target law firms and organizations based solely on who their clients may be or their practice areas.”
The incident unfolded around the morning of Aug. 14 when multiple ICE officers arrived at the Morris Law Group office in North Natomas. Employees later said an ICE agent who entered the front lobby of the law firm claimed officers had a list from Washington D.C., that said people lived at the address.
He asked to tour the office for beds, but was repeatedly denied access after failing to provide a warrant. The ICE agent then reportedly warned that officers could return at 3 a.m. and break windows to enter if they received follow-up orders. Judicial warrants are needed to enter non-public areas of a business.
DHS has provided three written statements to The Bee since the incident. The statements differ in details, but all say that ICE officers arrived at a “target address” for people they planned to arrest, were unaware it was a law firm and departed after learning that information.
Padilla and Schiff, in their letter, said they are “baffled” by that premise. They note that a Google search of the address shows it is a legal practice and the law firm’s name appears in large, bold letters on the front of the building.
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Video footage shows the officers in the parking lot of the law firm for at least 43 minutes. They are parked directly in front of the building for the majority of that time.
“It is clear that some DHS enforcement personnel wrongly believe they can enter individuals’ private properties, including places of business, without valid, judicial warrants required by the Fourth Amendment,” the senators said in their letter.
Among other requests, the senators demanded responses to the purpose of the Aug. 14 operation, why officers failed to secure a warrant and ask to tour for beds, which ICE field office led the operation and if they will commit to investigating the allegation that agents could potentially return at 3 a.m. The senators also insisted on answers about the alleged list from Washington, D.C., including who provided the list, what factors were considered in creating it and a list of offices and officials involved in the process.
They requested responses by Sept. 11, citing the serious allegations of the operation.
Schiff and Padilla are one of several elected leaders who have publicly criticized ICE’s actions. Last week, California Assemblymember Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, submitted a Freedom of Information Act request seeking communications and records of the agents and agencies involved in the operation.
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