By admin 
California U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff plan to investigate why U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attempted to enter and inspect a Sacramento immigration law firm last week.
Read more Second judge booted from Fresno County tax measure lawsuit; a third judge not identified
The incident, which was first reported by The Sacramento Bee, involved multiple armed ICE officers and the Morris Law Group office in North Natomas. On Friday morning around 9 a.m., at least four agents arrived and told employees of the law firm that they had received a list from Washington, D.C., which listed the building’s address as the primary mailing address for people they planned to arrest.
The ICE officers requested to tour the office for beds and stayed in the parking lot for roughly an hour, but were turned away multiple times after failing to provide a warrant. One ICE agent reportedly told an employee that they could return at 3 a.m. and break windows to enter if they received follow-up orders.
“I don’t put anything past the Trump administration to try to further terrorize immigrants,” Padilla told The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday.
In a written statement on Saturday afternoon, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed that ICE officers approached “an unmarked door” and believed it was a “target address.” They departed after learning the address was a law firm, the DHS spokesperson said.
The law firm’s office has text in large bold letters that reads “Morris Law Group P.C.” above the front door. Clients of immigration lawyers also routinely use an office’s address as their mailing address.
The encounter was unusual even with a federal administration that has cracked down on both legal and undocumented immigrants in unprecedented ways. The visit also raised questions among legal experts and elected officials, given that law firm offices hold confidential information about clients and most lawyers are aware that a judicial warrant is needed to enter a house or non-public areas of a business.
Read more Unusual college majors in California and the US and how much grads can earn
“Law firms are sacred spaces where immigrants seek legal protection and exercise their constitutional rights,” said Sacramento Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, who represents the North Natomas area. “They are no backgrounds for political intimidation. Weaponizing federal agencies to bully advocates and scare vulnerable communities undermines justice for everyone.”
Schiff, in a written statement, called ICE’s actions “unconscionable” and said his office would investigate the incident.
“ICE should know they cannot enter private property without a judicial warrant,” Schiff said. “Instead of complying with the law, ICE agents chose to threaten violence against a law firm because of whom they represent.”
DHS has not responded to follow up questions on the incident, including about the alleged list from Washington, D.C., and if the visit was part of a broader operation against law firms.
Padilla said the agency should come forward with that information, if true. He also hoped they were responsive with responding to his request for more information.
Read more Explore coffee heir’s Tahoe estate with 84 acres, Truckee River frontage
“This administration clearly has a credibility problem,” he added.
The Bee’s Jennah Pendleton contributed to this story.