Editor’s note: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, issued the following statement Friday in response to reports of impending mass arrests of immigrants across the country:

“The Trump Administration reportedly plans to carry out mass arrests to speed deportations of thousands of immigrants over the coming days.  These raids were expected to target 10 cities, but one of them, New Orleans, is reported to be off the list in deference to the storm conditions affecting the city.  The other cities still targeted are:  Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco.  There are also reports of ICE personnel arriving in Immokalee, Florida, with arrests of agricultural workers expected there. The Coalition on Human Needs strongly condemns these threatened raids.  After shocking the conscience of the nation as we witnessed the grievous and continuing harm to children separated from their parents, the Trump Administration is apparently intent on recklessly tearing more parents from children.

“We applaud the American Civil Liberties Union and organizations serving asylum-seekers who filed suit to stop the Trump Administration from its attempt to round up immigrants for immediate deportation without the due process of a court hearing.  So much is at stake here:  the very lives of people who would be returned to the death threats from which they fled; the health and safety of their children; the values of our nation; and the rule of law.

“We pledge to continue to oppose the Administration’s reckless endangering of children, teenagers, and families.  We know that members of the human needs community nationwide are stepping up to make sure that immigrants know their rights and have their support.”

The Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of national organizations working together to promote public policies which address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable populations. For more information please visit www.chn.org.